The mix of increased growth in trade combined with very weak international standards for vessel fuels and emissions will cause ships to become the dominant source of port-related emissions, unless new vessels utilize significantly cleaner engines. The San Pedro Bay Ports’ ultimate goal is to establish targets for engine performance with respect to particulate matter (PM), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and oxides of sulfur (SOx). These would be most likely represented in terms of grams pollutant per kilo-Watt hour (g/kW-hr). At this time however, the Ports have not established these specific goals since the state of marine vessel engine emissions reduction technologies is in transition to cleaner and more fuel efficient designs. In the meantime, the Ports are evaluating future needs with regard to controlling emissions and their associated health risk. The Ports are also discussing the evolution of the control of these sources with engine manufacturers and owners/operators. In addition, the United States delegation to the IMO Annex VI committee will also work to have new standards incorporated in international regulations. The United States delegation will present EPA's new emissions targets at the IMO's Bulk Liquids and Gases meeting, that will consider revisions to Annex VI, in April 2007.

For now, the San Pedro Bay Ports believe that new vessels destined for California service should be built with at least these technologies. As new orders for ships are placed, the Ports believe it’s essential that the following elements be incorporated into the vessel’s design and construction:

1. Fueling Flexibility. Design in extra fuel storage tanks and appropriate piping to run both main and auxiliary engines on a separate/cleaner fuel, as ports, states, and national governments set regional or localized fuel standards. The flexibility to switch efficiently to a cleaner fuel as ships approach ports will be an advantage (i.e., less cost, faster switch times, increased flexibility) over those ships that aren’t designed to switch fuels.

2. Cleanest Engines. When ordering new vessels, the Ports’ recommend that owners work with their engine manufacturer to incorporate all available emissions reduction technologies/options (slide valves, common rail, exhaust gas recirculation, etc.) that can be included when ordering main and auxiliary engines. The focus should be to maximize reductions of both PM and NOx..

3. Post Combustion Technologies. Incorporate selective catalytic reduction (SCR), to control NOx, and sea-water scrubbers, to control PM, or an equally effective combination of engine controls. If SCR or sea-water scrubber systems are not commercially available at the time of ship construction, design in space and access for retrofit installation of equipment after the ship is built.

4. Energy Recovery Systems. Incorporate shaft generators, micro turbines, and waste heat recovery/economizer devices to take advantage of main engine power and exhaust heat. These systems allow for better energy efficiencies and can allow boilers and auxiliary engines to be shut down during ocean transits.

5. In-Line Emulsification. Design in space for an in-line water-in-fuel emulsification system and appropriate storage tankage and piping. Fuel emulsification reduces both NOx and PM emissions by reducing combustion temperatures within the engine.

6. Shore-Power Infrastructure. Design in the shore-power equipment or the access space for conduits, cable reels, cable winches, locker space, etc. The Port of Long Beach has design standards for vessel shore-power equipment. In addition, both Ports are working with the International Standards Organization (ISO) to develop publicly available standards for shore-power, which will be available by late 2007.

7. Auxiliary Boilers. When ordering auxiliary boilers, specify low-NOx burners or the cleanest burners available.

The San Pedro Bay Ports will continue to update this information as new technologies and strategies are identified and those technologies are successfully demonstrated through the Ports’ Technology Advancement Program.