Vessels visiting Californian ports will be required to turn off their engines and connect to shoreside power under a new regulation that comes into effect on January 2, 2009.

Operators of vessels meeting specified criteria will be required to turn off their auxiliary engines for most of their stay in port.

By 2014, the regulations include provisions requiring a fleet to reduce its onboard auxiliary-diesel-engine power generation while docked at the berth by at least 50% from the  fleet’s baseline power generation.

This will increase to 70% in 2017 and 80% by 2020, and the vessels can then either use shore-side power for additional electricity or use an alternative means of emission reductions, the ARB added.

The regulation was approved by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) last week, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) announced Wednesday.   

"The regulation is projected to reduce hotelling diesel particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from container ships, passenger ships, and refrigerated cargo ships by nearly 50% relative to levels otherwise expected to be emitted in 2014, and 75% relative to levels otherwise expected to be emitted in 2020," an ARB report noted.  

The regulation is part of an ongoing effort by ARB to reduce emissions from diesel-fueled engines and improve air quality and the agency has been consulting on these new rules with industry over the last year.

The statewide total regulatory costs for affected businesses and port authorities to comply with the proposed regulation has been estimated at approximately $1.8 billion, the report said.

Last month the Port of Long Beach announced the completion of its first shoreside power facility at Pier G.

The new facility is the first phase of a 15-year, $800-million project. Long Beach plans to have 10 berths operational for cold ironing by 2011, which will allow an estimated 381 shore-powered ship calls in 2011.

The Port of San Diego has also recently received $2.4 million by the ARB's Carl Moyer Grant Program to install shoreside power at its new cruise ship terminal.