Marine News

[GordMay]

Catalyst possibility in diesel rules worries NMMA

The Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting public opinion on its plan to publish proposed new emission standards for marine diesel engines.

The EPA May 5 issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for marine diesel engine standards that are modeled after highway and non-road diesel engine programs. These new standards could take effect as early as 2011.

“It’s a big thing,” John McKnight, director of environmental and safety compliance for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), said in a telephone interview. “It’s going to cost a lot of money and it’s going to have a big impact on our industry.”

McKnight says the proposed rule would affect everything from sailboat auxiliary diesel engines to luxury yachts and offshore fishing boats. He said the industry’s main concern is that it may require catalyst technology on diesel engines.

“If you put a catalyst on these engines you have to use low-sulfur diesel fuel,” he explained. “Right now there is not a lot of availability of low-sulfur diesel fuel. It’s kind of like putting the cart before the horse.”

The advance notice precedes an actual proposed rule, providing industry stakeholders the opportunity to support the proposal, or raise issues with specific elements of the plan. NMMA says it will be working closely with the Engine Manufacturers Association, as well as its own engine manufacturer members and boatbuilders to provide comments on the EPA plan.

“This proposal will define technology for future diesel-powered yachts, and we have the opportunity to help craft the rule before it is final,” said McKnight. “With more than 10,000 marine diesel engines sold in the U.S. each year, the outcome of this rule will have a tremendous impact on many boat and engine manufacturers.”

McKnight said NMMA has been in contact with the Small Business Administration to request that the recreational marine industry be included in the Small Business Regulatory, Enforcement and Fairness Act panel when it is assembled. The panel will give small boatbuilders and marine diesel engine manufacturers the opportunity to outline and seek relief from the economic and technical challenges any possible EPA proposed action might have on the industry.

Contact John McKnight (NMMA) at (202) 737-9757 or jmcknight@nmma.org .


N.J. offers help with pumpout funding

The New Jersey Clean Vessel Act Steering Committee has scheduled a workshop to provide information about the Clean Vessel Act program and how marina owners and municipalities can apply for funding to install pumpout stations, dump stations and operate pumpout vessels.

The one-day workshop will be held June 9 at the Garden State Marina in Somers Point, N.J. The workshop is free and includes educational seminars, resource materials and a continental breakfast.

The Clean Vessel Act was passed by Congress in 1992. The primary goal of the federally funded program is to reduce overboard sewage by providing funds to states for the construction, renovation, operation, and maintenance of pumpout stations and dump stations.

A total of 178 pumpout facilities have been installed and five pumpout vessels are in operation in New Jersey since the inception of the program. In 2003 about 30,000 pumpouts were performed and over 600,000 gallons of sewage were collected, according to the steering committee.

Contact Michael Danko, chairman of the New Jersey Clean Vessel Act Steering Committee, at (732) 872-1300, Ext. 29, or at mdanko@njmsc.org

FLUKE RECALL NOTICE:
Dear Fluke customer,
As part of our focus on safety and our continuous commitment to producing the highest quality products, Fluke Corporation is voluntarily recalling its TL221, TL222 and TL224 SureGrip™ modular test lead sets. We are asking you to send back your test leads for replacement. This recall does not affect the test leads permanently attached to test probes that come standard with most Fluke Digital Multimeters...
More info’
http://www.fluke.nl/comx/action_rcl.aspx?locale=usen

Regards,
Gord