Guidelines for preventing loss of propulsion after switch to low sulfur fuel

摘要

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) created regulations for vessel emissions reductions for California waters as part of its continued mission to improve air quality around the state. These requirements came into effect in July 2009. The regulations require that oceangoing vessels within 24 nautical miles of the California coast burn eidier marine gas oil (MGO) with a maximum of 1.5 percent sulfur or marine diesel oil (MDO) with a maximum of .5 percent sulfur in their main and auxiliary engines. Following the implementation of the regulations, California witnessed a 100 percent increase in loss of propulsion (LOP) incidents within state waters during 2009. In 2010, California saw 54 LOP incidents compared with 24 in 2008 (the last full year before the regulations took effect.