California Legislature Passes Harbor Craft Fix

On August 30, the full California legislature unanimously passed a bill strongly supported by the maritime industry, Assembly Bill 1122, that earlier had cleared the Senate by a vote of 39-1. The bill overrides a rule enacted by the California Air Resources Board that requires most harbor craft to install diesel particulate filters (DPFs). The bill awaits a signature from California Gov. Gavin Newsom to become law. 

The CARB rule, the Commercial Harbor Craft Rule, is set to take effect in December unless stopped; it would require all marine vessels (except fishing boats) to install such devices to reduce particulate emissions. The U.S. Coast Guard has said it would refuse to certify the DPF devices. Engine manufacturers say an extensive testing period is necessary. When DPFs were mandated for trucks, they caused a number of vehicle fires and were implicated in some wildfires.

The bill passed with the support of Republicans and Democrats, in a rare show of bipartisanship in California politics. The bill requires that all DPFs be first tested, that the CARB rule be delayed until that happens, and that vessels install an override system and document its maintenance.

Bipartisanship has accompanied the bill in all its stages. On June 11, the California Senate Transportation Committee voted 14-0 in favor of AB 1122. It was authored by Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains. 

The American Waterways Operators (AWO) has called AB 1122 “a major milestone for mariner safety in California.” The marine industry has testified that requiring marine vessels to install untested DPFs poses safety hazards and could result in the cessation of much of the marine traffic in the state.

AWO urged members to write to California Gov. Gavin Newsom urging him to sign the bill into law by Sept. 30. Letters may be sent by Sept. 10 to leg.unit@gov.ca.gov.