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Today marks the enforcement of the first significant regulation for the reduction of sulphur in marine fuel in North America.

A new regulation by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will from today require shipowners operating within 24 miles of the California coastline to burn either marine gas oil (MGO), with a maximum of 1.5% sulphur, or marine diesel oil (MDO), with a maximum of 0.50% sulfur in their main engines, auxiliary engines or boilers.

Thereafter, beginning January 1, 2012, vessel operators will be required to use MGO or MDO with a maximum 0.10% sulphur in their main and auxiliary engines.

Operators who fail to comply with the rules would be subject to fines, penalties and potential exclusions from the ports of California.

Please find a summary of the fuel requirements in California in the table below:

Fuel Requirement	Effective Date	Fuel
Phase I	July 1st 2009	Marine gas oil (DMA) at or below 1.5% sulphur; or Marine diesel oil (DMB) at or below 0.5% sulphur
Phase II	Jan 1st 2012	Marine gas oil (DMA) or Marine diesel oil at or below 0.1% sulphur

In order to ensure compliance, CARB has recommended that :-

(i) Vessel crews are thoroughly familiar with the operational procedures used to switch fuels in main engines, auxiliary engines and auxiliary boilers.

(ii) Sufficient quantities of the specified “Phase I” cleaner fuels are onboard the vessel prior to making a California port visit.

(iii) Vessel crews understand the relevant record-keeping requirements.

Additional information, including special provision for noncompliance, can be found at www.arb.ca.gov/marine and a copy of the regulation is available from the address below:

www.arb.ca.gov regact/2008/fuelogv08/fuelogv08.htm