EPA Approves California’s At-Berth Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the California Air Resources Board or CARB waiver request for the 2020 Ocean-Going Vessels or OGV At-berth Regulation. The At-berth rule requires certain ships such as container vessels and cruise ships to plug into shore power while docked at port or to use an alternative CARB-approved emissions control technology. This rule is essential to reducing air pollution in California and protecting the health of millions of Californians who are most impacted by emissions from diesel-powered ships. CARB estimates that over 11 years, the updated regulation will save 237 lives and yield $2.31 billion in public health benefits.

CARB’s At-berth rule was slated to go into effect at the beginning of 2023, but implementation was delayed due to the threat of a shipping industry lawsuit and pending approval from the federal EPA. In response, Pacific Environment’s Ports for People campaign, along with other environmental justice advocates and community organizations, campaigned for the EPA to promptly authorize CARB’s delayed At-berth rule, including by leading two mobilization events in May 2023. We applaud the EPA’s decision to clean up ocean shipping and ports, but further action is needed to decarbonize this heavily polluting industry. As a next step, we urge California to move to zero-emissions ships by 2040 and for other states to adopt California’s At-berth rule.