United States Air and Radiation EPA420-F-99-047
Environmental Protection December 1999
Agency
Office of Mobile Sources
vvEPA Technical
Highlights
Marine Diesel Engine Emission
Standards: Scope of Application
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) final rule for
commercial marine diesel engines sets emission standards that apply
to new engines used in the United States. These standards take effect
for new engines manufactured starting in 2004,2005, or 2007,
depending on the size of the engine. This fact sheet is addressed to
companies producing these engines.
How does EPA distinguish marine and non-marine
diesel engines?
We define a marine diesel engine as one that is "installed on" a marine
vessel. A loose engine that someone intends to install on a marine vessel
can also be a marine diesel engine. This does not include portable
auxiliary engines for which the fueling, cooling, and exhaust systems are
not integral parts of the vessel.
Do the emission standards apply to remanufactured
engines?
Generally not. Marine engines you produce and sell before the new
standards take effect are not affected by EPA requirements, with three
exceptions (1) if you remanufacture a land-based engine for installation
on a marine vessel, or (2) if you remanufacture any engine for installa-
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tion in a new vessel, or (3) if anyone imports an uncertified engine
installed (or to be installed) on a vessel. In the first two cases, we treat
the engine as new marine engine that must meet any standards in effect
at the time you remanufacture it. Also, if you try to install a used engine
in a new vessel (or a land-based engine in any vessel) without remanu-
facturing it, the emission standards in effect at the time of installation
would apply to that engine. In the case of importation, we apply the
marine engine standards, if any, that were in effect at the time the im-
ported engine was freshly manufactured.
What exactly is a "new vessel"?
A new vessel is one that is freshly manufactured or on whose value at the
point of sale is at least 50 percent from new parts and construction. This
includes vessels that recycle selected components and refurbished ves-
sels that are so extensively overhauled that the majority of the resale
value is from the new construction.
What about remanufacturing engines that were
covered by an EPA certificate?
Anyone rebuilding or remanufacturing a certified engine must bring it
back to its original configuration. See the fact sheet on rebuilding diesel
engines for more information (EPA420-F-99-045). We do not expect
anyone to certify or re-certify these remanufactured engines.
What if your customer wants to repower a vessel
with a new engine?
A boat owner may want to replace an existing engine with a new model.
If you make a new marine engine to replace an existing one, it must meet
any emission standards in effect at the time you finish assembling the
new engine. However, if we agree that there is no engine available (from
you or any other manufacturer) with the physical and performance
characteristics needed for that installation, we will allow you to produce
an uncertified engine. You will need to label the new engine and take
possession of the engine you are replacing.
What is the foreign-trade exemption?
If someone wants to install a new marine diesel engine on a U.S.-flagged
vessel for overseas operation, you may request that we give you an
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exemption for those engines. You would need to have a letter from the
buyer of the new vessel showing that the vessel will operate predomi-
nantly overseas. The buyer can do this in one of two ways: (1) Show
that at least 75 percent of the engine operating time will occur more than
320 nautical kilometers outside of the U.S. This does not include trips
between ports in Alaska, Hawaii, and the continental U.S., or (2) Show
that the vessel has (or will have) solely a registry endorsement so it's
clear that the vessel will not operate between two U.S. ports.
What if I modify an engine that is already certified to
meet land-based requirements for installation in a
marine vessel?
You may qualify for the engine dressing exemption. For more informa-
tion, see 40 CFR 94.907.
What about recreational marine diesel engines?
A recreational marine diesel engine is one that you intend to be installed
on a recreational vessel. The emission standards in this final rule do not
apply to these engines. You will only need to label these engines to
show that they are for recreational vessels. We will be proposing sepa-
rate emission standards for recreational engines.
What other exemptions are available?
The commercial marine diesel final rule includes several other exemp-
tions. Many of these are common to other programs. See 40 CFR 94,
Subparts I and J for more information about how we handle each of
these exemptions.
1. Competition exemption: for engines that are used solely for
competition.
2. National security exemption: for combat-related applications.
3. Testing exemption: for your specific testing programs with uncerti-
fied engines.
4. Manufacturer-owned engine exemption: for engines you keep to
further develop your product.
5. Display exemption: for engines that are strictly for observation.
6. Export exemption: for engines you export to other countries (as
long as they don't adopt our standards).
7. Incomplete engine exemption: for loose, uncertified engines you
import to convert into a certified marine configuration.
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For More Information
Additional documents on marine diesel engine emission standards are
available electronically on the Office of Mobile Sources' web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/oms/marine.htm
You can also contact Alan Stout at:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Mobile Sources
2000 Traverwood Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
(734) 214-4805
e-mail: stout.alan@epa.gov
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