EPA to regulate emissions

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to introduce ship emission regulations by 2003. The regulations will seek to impose limits on nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from large marine engines, and are the result of the recent settlement of a lawsuit filed by Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund on behalf of the Bluewater Network. Bluewater forced the EPA`s hand because of the failure of the world`s nations to ratify the MARPOL protocol 97 (Annex VI), which sought to set global standards for ship emissions. Before the protocol can take effect it requires ratification from countries responsible for at least 50% of shipping traffic. So far only three nations, Norway, Sweden and Singapore – representing 9% of shipping traffic – have ratified the treaty.