Emissions standards for engines?
Soundings Trade Only compiled a story for its April issue on the proposed emissions standards for marine and locomotive engines.
The proposed marine rule, part of the EPA’s National Clean Diesel Campaign, will require a 90-percent reduction in particulate matter emissions, an 80-percent reduction in nitrogen oxides and additional reductions in hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and air toxics.
The proposal has been drawing mixed reactions among trade groups.
The Engine Manufacturers Association, support the proposal, saying it will dramatically reduce emissions from diesel engines. Previously issued rules on highway trucks and buses, construction and farm equipment and stationary generators have led to significant emission reductions.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association says the proposal could financially harm U.S.-based megayacht builders and large sportfishing boat manufacturers. The group says the proposal sets the bar too low and establishes a bad precedent for the ruling to eventually extend, encompassing smaller, high-performance engines as well.
What are your thoughts on this topic?
Lois Caliri
Editor
A View from Here
March 20th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Boating’s high fuel use & perceived emission problems will eventually become a green issue with environmentalists. Have you forgotten? Jimmy Carter once proposed stopping the use of recreational boats to save fuel.
March 20th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
With the condition of the waters, already a problem, the marine industry should support this type of rules. Any improvement in the lakes, rivers. and oceans is good for the marine industry. Making the mega boaters pay for improved engines make good sense, it would be a small part of the overall cost of the boat.
March 22nd, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Well Clarence you sound like a good liberal democrat. Make the wealthy pay, just a little more regulation please, and just be “a small part of overall cost”. Where does this algore crap stop? How much significantly cleaner and at at what cost to industry should be the question.
March 28th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
When Al Gore lives cleaner than I do, I’ll listen to his preaching. He buys carbon credits? What a joke.
April 19th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
NMMA supports the Tier III emission standards that will be required for all diesel engines 2000 kW because Tier IV requires aftertreatment. In order to operate aftertreatment on a vessel you need low sulfur diesel. You also need to inject 2-3% UREA into the catalyst while the boat is operating.
This emission standard is only for very large yachts where each engine is greater than 2650 horsepower. It does not apply to foriegn built or foriegn registered vessels that can freely operate in US waters.
NMMA’s concern is that if only US vessels are required to install catalyst and can only operate on low sulfur diesel, which EPA has admitted in its proposed rule is not available in most of the ports around the world, this is probably not something that the marine industry would want to support.
NMMA has contacted the large yacht builders and has made them aware of this pe nding issue. NMMA can support Tier IV standards if they were worldwide. NMMA will not support an EPA emission requirement that imposes a use restriction on vessels manufactured or sold in the US.