Port shippers Rip state's move to limit diesel pollution.

For cargo, cruise and other ships seeking to dock at the ports of Los Angeles or Long Beach, things will soon become more expensive.

Starting Jan. 1, a new regulation from the state Air Resources Board takes effect, requiring that ship operators use low-sulfur or other low-emitting diesel fuels for their auxiliary or diesel-electric engines, which are typically the engines used when ships are docked at port.

As an alternative, vessel operators can hook up to shore-side electric power, as several shipping lines have begun to do at the ports of Los Angeles and Long beach.

Those operators unable to comply with either of these choices must pay a fee to the agency that can range from $13,000 for the first California port visited to $162,000 for five or more California ports visited.

In addition to switching to these less-polluting fuels, vessel operators must begin keeping extensive records on the types of fuels they are using, starting when the vessels enter California waters (24 nautical miles Offshore).

All this was summarized in a special notice that the Air Resources Board sent out last week to the shipping, cruise and fishing industries warning them of the impending rule change.

The regulation is part of a much broader strategy by state and local air pollution control officials to clamp down on toxic emissions from the ports. In Los Angeles County, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the number one source of toxic air contaminants--primarily diesel fuel.

However, shippers remain opposed to the Air Resources Board regulation. They are challenging the board's authority to regulate 24 miles offshore, which they consider international waters.

"Forcing ships to switch to low-sulfur fuels while they are still under full power miles from shore is very complicated and costly, and besides, we believe the state has no jurisdiction to do this," said T.L. Garrett, vice president with the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association.

Garrett added that some older vessels may not be able to be retrofitted to accommodate the low-sulfur fuels and may be stuck paying the "exorbitant" fees for years, until they are retired.