California Air Resources Board

There are several types of harbor craft in California, including crew and supply boats, fishing vessels, ferries, excursion vessels, tug boats, barges, dredges, and other vessel types. Since the original adoption of the Commercial Harbor Craft (CHC) regulation in 2008, and its amendment in 2010, CHC vessel owners have replaced older engines with newer and cleaner engines, which reduced the emissions of air pollutants including diesel particulate matter (DPM), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), oxides of sulfur (SOx), reactive organic gases (ROG), and greenhouse gases (GHG). In 2022, a new set of amendments were adopted to expand the applicability of the regulation to more vessel types and require cleaner upgrades and newer technology. The 2022 Amendments provide significant health benefits, avoid premature death and mortality, and protect workers and on-vessel passengers from exposure to diesel and other combustion-generated air pollutants. The 2022 Amendments were adopted by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) with an effective date of December 30, 2022. Requirements begin as early as January 1, 2023.
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