Spark-Ignition Marine Engine and Watercraft (SIME/SIMW) Regulatory and Certification Documents

The Spark-Ignition Marine Engine and Watercraft regulations cover any spark-ignited engine that is used to propel a marine watercraft, including personal watercraft (e.g. Jet Skis, WaveRunners, Sea-Doos), outboard engines, and sterndrive/inboard (e.g. propeller driven vessels, jet boats, air boats, hovercraft) engines.

This page provides a list of the Manufacturers Advisory Correspondence (MACs), mailouts, correspondence, regulation, test procedures, and guidelines applicable to Spark-Ignition Marine Engines, and is primarily for the interest and needs of manufacturers and others that are required to obtain certification from CARB. For more public-oriented materials, visit Spark-Ignition Marine Watercraft.

Subscribe to the Mobile Source Mailouts and MAC topic to be notified when a new Mobile Source Mailout or MAC has been posted.

Updates

On April 30, 2019, CARB conducted a public workshop to discuss the proposed adoption of a schedule of fees for mobile source certification and compliance.

Watercraft Evaporative Certification

Authorized Contact Information Sheet for New SIMW Manufacturers (To be sent to CARB before submitting first certification application)
How to register for a new 3-character manufacturer code from US EPA
- For step by step instructions on how to register for the code on EPA's website please follow this PDF: "How to Register a Company with EPA"
Full Design Based Certification Application
- SIMW Evaporative Model Summary Excel Template (updated August 19, 2021)
- Evaporative Family Naming Convention
- Sample Application and Support Documents
- Sample Emissions Labels (updated 4/19/17)
- Sample Emissions Warranty Statement (updated 4/19/17)
Optional Certification Compliance Letter to Request Conditional Evaporative Executive Order
SIMW Certification Webinar Presentation
SIMW Certification FAQ (updated 2/23/23)
MAC ECCD-2023-01
List of CARB certified SIMW evaporative component Executive Orders
Final Regulation Order - Spark Ignition Marine Watercraft Evaporative Regulations
Annual SIMW Sales Report

Please email certification documents to: SIMW.evapcert@arb.ca.gov

Marine Engine Exhaust Certification

Regulation

Engine Exhaust Regulation

Amendments to Spark Ignition Marine Engine Regulations from December 16, 2011 hearing (adopted October 25, 2012)
Amendments to Spark Ignition Marine Engine Regulations from July 24, 2008 hearing (adopted August 16, 2009)
Amendments to Spark Ignition Marine Engine Regulations (adopted December 13, 2006)
Final Regulation Order - Spark Ignition Marine Engine Regulations (adopted August 21, 2002)

Test Procedures

Engine Exhaust Test Procedures

Amendments to California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2001 and Later Spark-Ignition Marine Engines from December 16, 2011 hearing (amended October 25, 2012)
California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2001 Model Year and Later Spark-Ignition Marine Engines (revised July 24, 2008)

Manufacturers Advisory Correspondence

Mailout Number	Subject
MAC 23-01	Spark-Ignition Marine Watercraft Evaporative Regulatory Clarification and Certification Requirements for 2024MY and Subsequent Spark-Ignition Marine Watercraft (SIMW) and Spark-Ignition Marine Engines (SIME)
MAC 03-01	Hang Tag and Star Labels for 2003 and Later Model Year Spark-Ignition Marine Engines (data)
MAC 00-04	(for Outboards and PWCs only) Format for Submitting Electronically Based and Written Submissions of Manufacturer Quarterly Production Line Testing Reports, and Guidance on Meeting Production Line Engine Sampling Requirements for 2001 and Later Model Year Spark-Ignition Marine Engines (data) Attachment 2 (Marine Information) Attachment 3 (Summary) Attachment 4 (Quarterly Summary) Attachment 5 (Individual) Attachment 6 (Quarterly Test Summary) Attachment 7 (Combined Quarters 1%) Attachment 8 (Combined Quarters) Attachment 9 (data) Attachment 10 (data) (Manufacture Name) The corresponding templates for the four CARB-specified file formats and the Access hard copy formats, referenced in MAC #2000-04, are listed below: Engine Family Information File Engine Family Data Per Quarter File Individual Engine Test Data Per Quarter File Combined Quarters Engine Family File Spark-Ignition Marine Engine Access Database File for generating hard copy reports

Mobile Source Mailouts

Mailout Number	Subject
ECARS 15-07	Streamlined Certification Process For Carryover And Partial Carryover Certification Applications
MSO 07-03	New Requirement to Report Carbon Dioxide Emissions from 2008 and Subsequent Model Year California Certified Vehicles and Engines
MSO 03-04	Certification Guidelines For 2001 Model-Year (MY) and Later Outboard/Personal Watercraft and 2003 MY and later Inboard/Sterndrive Spark-Ignition Marine Engines (data) Certification Application Template (2020 & later) SIME Exhaust Model Summary Excel Template (updated November 12, 2020) Certification Application Template (2011-2019) Certification Application Template (2010 & earlier) Outboard/PWC Corporate Average Plan Template Inboard & Sterndrive Corporate Average Plan Template Sample Letter of Intent (data) Sample Cover Letter (data)

Correspondence

Inboard/Sterndrive Certification and Regulation Issues	Summary of Comments and CARB Response in reference to Inboard and Sterndrive Marine Engines Workshop
Reference No. NMC-2001-001	California Air Resources Board (CARB) July 26, 2001 Letter to National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) on the placement, and replacement of environmental labels on outboard marine engines and personal watercraft NMMA August 14, 2001 Follow-Up Letter to CARB's July 26, 2001 Letter NMMA May 17, 2001 Letter to CARB on the placement, and replacement of environmental labels on outboard marine engines and personal watercraft
Reference No. C-2000-351	CARB May 17, 2000 Letter to National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) regarding placement environmental labels on spark-ignition outboard marine engines NMMA March 2, 2000 Letter to CARB on marine engine star label placement

Guidelines

Engine Sampling Plan Requirements (for Outboards and PWCs only)
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1939-05 OBD-M Implementation Guidelines

Certification Database

Certification database and the Executive Orders for Spark-Ignition Marine Engines and Watercraft: Off-Road Certification Database

Document Management System (DMS)

The following link is for information and guidelines regarding the electronic Document Management System used to submit certification applications and supporting documents: DMS

Portable Outboard Marine Fuel Tanks

The following link provides information regarding regulations and certification procedures for Portable Outboard Marine Fuel Tanks: Outboard Marine Tanks (OMTs)

For information on Portable Outboard Marine Fuel Tank certification procedures, contact Angus MacPherson, at (916) 445-4686.

SIMW Evaporative Component Executive Orders

For questions concerning SIMW evaporative component Executive Orders, contact Scott Monday, at (916) 445-9319.

For more information on Spark-Ignition Marine Engine certification procedures, contact Kumar Muthukumar at (951) 542-3295.