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.  The Commercial Harbor Craft (CHC) Regulation was adopted in 2007 to reduce emissions of diesel particulate matter (PM), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and Reactive Organic Gases (ROG) from diesel engines used on CHC operated in Regulated California Waters (within 24 nautical miles of the California coast).  The rule was then amended in 2010, and will be fully implemented by the end of 2022. 

CARB is currently developing additional amendments to the CHC regulation.  Staff is re-evaluating the feasibility of Tier 4 engine technology and the performance of advanced retrofit emission control devices in CHC applications, and exploring other operational control strategies for reducing emissions.