International Maritime Organization
Adopts Program to Control Air
Emissions from Oceangoing Vessels
On October 9th, the 168 Member States of the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted stringent new standards to
control harmful exhaust emissions from the engines that power ocean-
going vessels (OGVs). This is a critical first step that may eventually
help millions of Americans and many more people around the world
to breathe cleaner air. To fully realize the significant benefits of this
program, countries must seek an emission control area (EGA) desig-
nation from the IMO. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), in partnership with the Coast Guard, Navy, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, Maritime Administration, and State
Department, played a significant role in the complex negotiations
leading up to this agreement.
What did the IMO do?
The IMO adopted a comprehensive program of engine and fuel standards, detailed
in amendments to Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of
Pollution from Ships (also called MARPOL), that closely matches a proposal submitted
by EPA and its Federal partners to the IMO last year.
Like the original Annex VI program, the new standards are geographically-based.
That is, ships operating in areas with air quality problems, designated as Emission
Control Areas (EGAs), are required to meet tighter emission limits. Beginning in
2015, new and existing ships operating in EGAs will be required to use fuel with no
more than 1,000 parts per million (ppm) sulfur, or a 98% reduction from today's global
cap. Beginning in 2016 new ships operating in EGAs must also have advanced-tech-
nology engines designed to cut emissions of ozone-forming oxides of nitrogen (NOx)
by roughly 80%. The new fuel standards will phase in over time beginning with an
interim fuel sulfur standard in 2010. The IMO did not designate any new emission
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
EPA420-F-08-033
October 2008
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control areas in this action. Countries will need to seek such a designation in order to realize
fully the benefits of this program. The EPA is working closely with all parts of the Federal Gov-
ernment to prepare an application for EGA status for our coasts and will submit that application
to IMO as soon as possible.
Emissions from ships operating outside of designated EGAs will be reduced through engine and
fuel standards. OGVs everywhere will be required to use fuel with at most 5,000 ppm sulfur, or
a 90% reduction from today's global cap. This fuel standard will begin in 2020, pending a fuel
availability review in 2018. The engine standards will apply to new engines in 2011, and to
existing engines as certified low-emission kits become available, beginning in 2011,
What ships are affected?
The new international standards contained in the Annex VI amendments apply to all new
marine diesel engines above 130 kW (175 hp) and all marine diesel fuels. For vessels flagged
and registered in the United States, EPA's clean diesel engine and fuel standards (www.epa,
gov/otaq/marine.htm#2008final) will apply for all but the very largest new marine diesel engines
(those above 30 liters per cylinder displacement). For engines above 30 liters per cylinder and
for residual fuels, the new Annex VI standards will apply.
Most importantly, the new international standards will apply to all new marine diesel engines
and fuels on foreign vessels that operate near America's coasts and ports. These foreign flagged
r > vessels account for the vast majority of OGV traffic in the U.S.
How do oceangoing vessels harm U.S. air quality?
Oceangoing vessels dock at over a hundred ports in the U.S., including some along navigable
waterways in the nation's interior. More than 40 of these ports are in metropolitan areas that do
not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (www.epa.gov/air/criteria.html). These
vessels also travel along our populated coasts and waterways. Most have, at best, very modest air
pollution controls and many have no controls at all, emitting pollutants at levels (measured in
grams per horsepower-hour) typical of highway trucks built before the 1980's. Furthermore, these
emissions of particulate matter (PM), sulfur oxides (SOx), hydrocarbons, and NOx can degrade
air quality for people living hundreds of miles downwind.
We have estimated that in 2001 marine diesel engines with per-cylinder displacement of 30 li-
ters or more (a group roughly corresponding to the engines covered by the new IMO standards)
contributed 6% of the NOx coming from all mobile sources in the U.S., as well as 10% of the
PM, and 40% of the SOx. We further estimate that without new emission controls, these contri-
butions would have increased by 2030 to 34% of the NOx coming from all mobile sources in the
U.S., 45% of the PM, and 94% of the SOx. Percent contributions from these marine engines in
some port cities with poor air quality range much higher.
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What will this program mean for the environment?
The final EGA standards will achieve reductions from current Tier 1 engine emission levels
(www.epa.gov/otaq/oceanvessels.htm#tierl) of 80%, 85%, and 95% for NOx, PM, and SOx,
respectively. Considering the large contribution OGVs make to U.S. air quality problems,
especially in port cities, the health benefits from these emission reductions will be very substan-
tial. We anticipate many billions of dollars of health and welfare benefits in the U.S. from this
program if an EGA designation is made for U.S. coastlines.
Why is the IMO process important?
In today's global economy, the number of ships doing business at U.S. ports is increasing at a
rapid rate. Very few of these ships are U.S.'flagged, and the fuel they burn when entering U.S.
waters has typically been obtained elsewhere, at ports all over the world. This new IMO program
directly addresses emissions from these foreign-flagged vessels. It requires them to meet stringent
standards whenever they operate in designated EGAs,
What are the new standards?
The EC A fuel sulfur standards are:
- 10,000 ppm starting July 2010.
- 1,000 ppm starting January 2015,
The global fuel sulfur standards are:
- 35,000 ppm starting January 2012,
- 5,000 ppm starting January 2020 (subject to a review in 2018, but no delay past 2025),
The engine emission standards vary with rated engine speed according to a formula. See "Where
can I get more information" below for details. Percent reductions from the existing Tier 1
standards are provided below:
The ECA engine emission standards are:
- Tier 3 for new engines: 80% NOx reduction starting January 2016 (based on the use of ad-
vanced catalytic aftertreatment systems),
The global engine emission standards are:
- Tier 2 for new engines: 20% NOx reduction starting January 2011,
- Tier 1 for existing engines: 15-20% NOx reduction from current uncontrolled levels. Manufac-
turers may begin certifying systems (sets of upgraded replacement parts) starting in 2010. Instal-
lation will occur at a vessel's first "renewal survey" following the Tier 1 certification applicable to
the vessel's engines. A renewal survey is a major inspection and maintenance activity, typically
done every 5 years.
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How does this relate to EPA's recent Advance Notice on reducing pol-
lution from oceangoing vessels?
The analyses performed for the Advance Notice and the comments received by EPA in response
to it provided valuable input into the IMO process and helped it to reach a successful outcome,
EPA is considering the information provided in comments on the Advance notice and through
the IMO process in our Clean Air Act rulemaking on OGVs (www.epa.gov/otaq/oceanvessels.htm).
Where can I get more information?
You can get more information on the IMO program and EPA's marine engine programs from the
Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) website:
www.epa.gov/otaq/oceanvessels.htm and www.epa.gov/otaq/marine.htm
For additional information, please contact the Assessment and Standards Division at:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI48105
Information Line:734'214-4636
E-mail: asdinfo@epa.gov
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