v>EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Transportation
and Air Quality
EPA420-F-06-057
July 2006
Program
Announcement
Marine Engine Manufacturer
Develops Low Emission Inboard
Marine Engines
Over the past several years, EPA, the marine industry, U.S. Coast
Guard, California Air Resources Board, Southwest Research Institute,
and others have worked on a series of development programs geared
toward emission-reducing technologies for gasoline-powered marine
engines. These programs have had promising results. Now, one
manufacturer, who participated in these programs, Indmar Marine
Engines, is selling inboard marine engines with catalytic exhaust
aftertreatment, which reduces emissions from these engines.
Background
Exhaust emissions from marine engines contribute to pollution:
hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and particulate
matter. These pollutants can cause a variety of serious health effects,
from respiratory problems to cancer. In order to protect public health
and the environment, the Clean Air Act directed EPA to take steps to
reduce these emissions.
In 1996, EPA published exhaust emission standards for outboard and
personal watercraft marine engines. These standards, phased in from
1998 to 2006, were largely based on engine technology and achieved
approximately a 75 percent reduction in ozone-forming gases from new
engines.
-------
In 2001, the California Air Resources
Board adopted emission standards for
new sterndrive and inboard marine
engines that are expected to require use
of catalytic converters, beginning in
2007.
In 2002, EPA gave notice of its intent to
develop a proposal for further emission
reductions from marine engines. This
notice included a discussion on the
potential emission benefits that can be
achieved through the use of catalytic
controls and the ongoing development
and testing of catalysts on sterndrive and
inboard marine engines. EPA is now in
the process of developing proposed new
emission regulations for gasoline-
powered marine engines.
Overview of Catalyst
Development Efforts
Over the past several years, EPA has
worked with the marine industry, U.S.
Coast Guard, California Air Resources
Board, Southwest Research Institute, and
others, including several marine engine
manufacturers on a series of develop-
ment and test programs for the use of
catalytic exhaust aftertreatment on stern-
drive/inboard (SD/I) marine engines.
These efforts include:
• Laboratory testing of six catalyst
designs on a SD/I engine
• In-water testing of boat with
catalysts over severe operation
(fresh and salt water)
• Full useful life testing of 4 boats
with catalysts in fresh water
• Ongoing testing of 3 boats with
catalysts in salt water
Results from this testing suggest that
significant emission reductions can be
achieved from SD/I engines through the
use of catalysts. The fresh water durability
study has shown that these emission
reductions can be achieved over the
lifetime of the engine. We anticipate that
the salt water testing will show similar
results.
This year, one of the manufacturers
involved in the catalyst test programs,
Indmar Marine Engines, successfully
completed their own catalyst develop-
ment and durability testing program in
parallel with the work listed above. Now,
Indmar Marine Engines is selling inboard
marine engines equipped with catalysts,
and they report excellent emission perfor-
mance without any loss in performance.
Their efforts will help promote this clean
emission technology, which is capable of
reducing smog -forming gases by more
than two-thirds and carbon monoxide by
more than half.
For More Information
You can access documents related to gas-
oline-powered marine engine standards
on EPA's Office of Transportation and Air
Quality web site at:
www. epa.gov/otaq/marinesi. htm
You can also contact us at:
Assessment and Standards Division
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Voice-mail: (734) 214-4636
E-mail: asdinfo@epa.gov
------- |