A shipper is fined by the California Air Resources Board for violating clean air regulation.
The China Navigation Co. Pte. Ltd. was fined $129,500 for failure to switch its engines over from heavy diesel “bunker” fuel to cleaner, low-sulfur fuel when close to the California coast, as required by state law.
“Ships using heavy diesel fuels are a significant contributor to California’s air quality problems, even in communities located far from our coast” – Todd Sax, ARB Enforcement Division Chief.
CARB’s Ocean-Going Vessel Fuel regulation is a critical part of California’s plan to attain air quality standards in Southern California and across the state.
“We check vessels nearly every day to ensure that they are compliant with our strict clean air laws, when we identify a violation, we educate the fleet owner and crew on how to comply with our requirements, and we assess penalties as a deterrent to future noncompliance.” – Todd Sax, ARB Enforcement Division Chief.
On December 28, 2012, an ARB inspector found that the vessel Chenan, managed by the China Navigation Co. Pte. Ltd., operated within Regulated California Waters – 24 miles or less from the coast – on noncompliant heavy fuel oil on 12 separate days, for four voyages between August 5 and December 28, 2012, while en route to and departing from the Port of Los Angeles.
The China Navigation Co. Pte. Ltd. took prompt action after being notified of these violations and cooperated with the investigation.
In addition to paying a fine, the company agreed to comply with all fuel switchover requirements and to keep accurate records going forward.
