House passes ship pollution bill

The House of Representatives passed a bill that would result in the U.S. enforcing international regulations that reduce air pollutants from ocean-going diesel ships and port operations.

The Maritime Pollution Prevention Act of 2008 (H.R. 802) will enable the United States to implement Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, known widely as MARPOL, an international treaty that establishes emission limits for nitrogen (NOx) and sulfur (SOx) oxides and other pollutants from vessels.

H.R. 802 amends current law, the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. The Senate passed the bill on June 26, and it now goes to the president for his signature.

The American Association of Port Authorities on Tuesday praised Congress for passing the bill.

While land-based emissions and some marine emissions are the responsibility of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, AAPA believes that an international process is the most effective for vessels, the majority of which are flagged in countries other than the U.S., said Kurt Nagle, AAPA president and chief executive officer.

Considering that emissions from ocean-going ships are predicted to grow by more than 70 percent over the next 15 years, it's imperative that meaningful and effective air emissions standards be adopted to improve air quality.

The AAPA was founded in 1912 and represents 160 of the leading public port authorities in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Source: American Shipper