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The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has fined 12 shipping companies a combined US$476,750 for failure to switch from intermediate fuel oil to cleaner, low sulphur marine distillate fuel upon entering regulated California waters, as required by state law.

The companies listed below were fined for either failing to switch to cleaner fuel within 24 nautical miles of the California coast, or for switching fuels in an untimely manner.

Univan Maritime Ltd. (Hong Kong) - $78,250
Vessel name: Maersk Wolfsburg

Firon Shipping Inc. (Cyprus) c/o XT Shipping Group - $68,000
Vessel name: Blue Diamond

W. Bockstiegel GmbH & Co. Reederei KG (Germany) - $55,500
Vessel name: BBC Arizona

MK Shipmanagement Co., LTD. (Tokyo) - $53,000
Vessel name: Ocean Seagull

Cosco Maritime LTD. (UK) - $34,500
Vessel name: Antwerp

Triton Schiffahrts GmbH - $30,250
Vessel name: Eagle Bay

Dumun Marine S.A. (Panama) - $30,250
Vessel name: Dumun

Peter Doehle Schiffahrts (Germany) - $27,750
Vessel name: Fanfare

Byzantine Maritime Corporation (Greece) - $27,750
Vessel name: Ermione

Crowley Technical Management, Inc. (Florida, USA) - $27,750
Vessel name: Ocean Crescent

BigLift Shipping B.V. (Netherlands) - $23,750
Vessel name: Happy Dynamic

YA-SA Tanker and Transportation (Turkey) - $20,000
Vessel name: Golden Horn

"All companies took prompt action after being notified of the violations and, under ARB’s supervision, began complying with state law," ARB said.

"Our regulations mandating use of cleaner fuel by ocean-going vessels have greatly helped to improve air quality not only in coastal communities, but also in inland areas," said ARB Enforcement Chief Jim Ryden. “Studies have shown that coastal air pollution travels far inland, so when ships off our shores follow the rules, millions of people benefit."