ARB adopted strategies in December 2005 that require cleaner engines in cargo handling equipment and clean fuel on ships. Combined with the new measures this week, ARB regulations will reduce diesel particulate matter emissions from container and cruise ship terminals by almost two-thirds by 2010, and by an estimated 75% by 2014. Overall diesel soot emissions will decline by 1,800 tons per year in 2014.

Shore Power. The new regulation will require certain fleet operators of container, passenger and refrigerated cargo ships (“reefers”) to turn off their auxiliary engines—which power lighting, ventilation, pumps and other onboard equipment—while a ship is docked for most of its stay in port. The rule will affect almost 95% of the ship visits in these three categories. Once docked, operators would then be expected to receive their electricity from shore-based sources or meet percentage reductions through other means. Ports affected by the regulation are those most visited: Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco and Hueneme in Ventura County.

A 2005 ARB exposure study at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach shows that more than two million people live in areas around the ports with predicted cancer risks of greater than 10 in a million due emissions from docked ocean-going vessels. From that study and other data, ARB estimates that about 61 premature deaths per year can be attributed to exposure to diesel exhaust generated from ships in port.

Container, passenger and reefer vessels call at California ports almost 6,000 times each year, accounting for nearly 85% of the emissions from all docked ships. In 2006, approximately 1.8 tons per day of diesel particulate matter and 21 tons per day of oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) were emitted from the diesel-fueled auxiliary engines of docked ships. The regulation is expected to reduce diesel and smog-forming emissions from docked container, passenger and reefer ships by nearly 50% relative to levels otherwise expected to be emitted in 2014, and 80% by 2020.

Next year, ARB expects to introduce a similar rule that will reduce emissions from bulk ships, tankers and vehicle carriers.

Drayage trucks. ARB staff estimates that California has about 20,000 port (drayage) trucks that frequently visit the ports and rail yards and have the greatest impact on local air quality. Drayage trucks are a significant source of diesel particulate matter, contributing three tons per day statewide. With regards to the smog precursor NO_x, port trucks emit 61 tons per day.

Phase one of the new regulation requires all pre-1994 drayage truck engines be retired or replaced with 1994 and newer engines by the end of 2009. In addition, trucks with 1994-2003 engines will need to be either replaced or retrofitted to achieve an 85 percent reduction in diesel particulate matter by the same deadline. The second phase of the regulation requires all drayage trucks to meet 2007 emissions standards by the end of 2013.

The rule also requires compliant trucks working at the 14 ports and 11 rail yards affected by this regulation to be entered into a special registry by late 2009. (Affected ports are Benicia, Crockett, Hueneme, Humboldt Bay (Eureka), Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Redwood City, Richmond, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and Stockton. Affected intermodal rail yards are: Oakland Union Pacific (UP) and Oakland Burlington (BNSF); Hobart BNSF; LATC UP; Commerce UP; Commerce Eastern BNSF; Richmond BNSF; ICTF UP; San Bernardino; Stockton Intermodal BNSF; and Lathrop Intermodal UP.)

Next year, the Board will consider a similar measure which will focus on reducing emissions from in-use private heavy duty diesel truck fleets.

The regulation is expected to reduce diesel particulate matter emissions from drayage trucks from baseline 2007 levels some 86% (2.6 tons per day) by 2010. Emissions of NO_x are expected to be reduced from 2007 baseline levels by 62 percent (42 tons per day) by 2014.

ARB estimates that the proposed regulation will prevent 1,200 premature deaths from 2009 through 2020, with benefits being the most dramatic in the communities where port trucks are heavily concentrated.

In addition to substantially helping local communities, the port truck regulation, if passed, will help the entire Los Angeles region meet federally mandated air quality standards by 2014. In terms of greenhouse gas, it will help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 55,000 - 89,000 tons per year (3 - 5%). The shore power regulation is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by roughly 40% by 2020, equivalent to about 200,000 tons per year.

Long-term exposure to diesel exhaust increases the risk of developing lung cancer and respiratory disease, and can cause premature death.

Resources

• At-Berth Ocean-Going Vessel Regulation presentation

• Evaluation of Cold-Ironing Ocean-going Vessels at California Ports (March 6, 2006)