US House approves Bill to cut ship pollution
The US House of Representatives approved legislation late on Monday to cut polluting emissions spewed by ships powered by diesel fuel. Under the House Bill, the US Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency would be given the authority to develop and enforce emission limits on thousands of domestic and foreign-flagged vessels entering US waters each year.
The legislation would bring US ship emission standards and requirements in line with pollution regulations followed by other countries. Those regulations were adopted by the International Maritime Organisation in 1997 to limit sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from ship exhausts that deplete the Earth's ozone.
The organisation's regulations entered into force internationally in 2005 and the US Senate adopted the treaty the following year.
Ocean-going vessels produce more sulphur dioxide emissions than all the world's cars, trucks and buses combined, according to a new report from the International Council on Clean Transportation, made up of transportation and air quality officials from around the world. The study shows that the sulphur content of marine fuel is far greater than highway diesel fuel. Ships use fuel with an average sulphur content of 27,000 parts per million (ppm) compared to just 10 to 15 ppm for road fuels in Europe, Japan and the US.
Rep James Oberstar, the Bill's co-sponsor, said he hoped the US Senate would quickly pass the House legislation.
The legislation would bring US ship emission standards and requirements in line with pollution regulations followed by other countries. Those regulations were adopted by the International Maritime Organisation in 1997 to limit sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from ship exhausts that deplete the Earth's ozone.
The organisation's regulations entered into force internationally in 2005 and the US Senate adopted the treaty the following year.
Ocean-going vessels produce more sulphur dioxide emissions than all the world's cars, trucks and buses combined, according to a new report from the International Council on Clean Transportation, made up of transportation and air quality officials from around the world. The study shows that the sulphur content of marine fuel is far greater than highway diesel fuel. Ships use fuel with an average sulphur content of 27,000 parts per million (ppm) compared to just 10 to 15 ppm for road fuels in Europe, Japan and the US.
Rep James Oberstar, the Bill's co-sponsor, said he hoped the US Senate would quickly pass the House legislation.