This news is about five days old, but slipped through the cracks of a busy week on my part. The U.S. House approved a bill that would require oceangoing vessels (most of which are flagged in foreign countries) to reduce their emissions at U.S. ports.
The S.C. State Ports Authority lauded the move. Port shipping has gotten a lot of press lately for its role in local air quality problems, and laws like this force the ships themselves to clean up, taking the pressure off the port management.
Read the whole story in the Regional Business Journal.
The largely unregulated oceangoing vessels that belch noxious pollutants into the air as they call on Charleston and other domestic ports could soon be forced to reduce their emissions under legislation the House approved last night.
The S.C. State Ports Authority praised Congress’ action and encouraged Bush to sign the legislation, which would give the government greater control over domestic and foreign-flagged vessels traveling in U.S. waters.
The Senate passed the measure June 26.
“Action was long overdue, so we appreciate Congress’ action,” SPA spokesman Byron Miller said. “It’s going to drive up costs for the shipping industry, but it will certainly cut vessel air emissions.”
