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Commercial Harbor Craft

2022 Amendments

California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Section 93118.5

Specific details on the opacity testing and emission control repair requirements can be found in the regulation text subsection (k) Opacity Testing and Emission Control Repair

Requirements (CCR Title 17, section 93118.5). In the case of any discrepancy between this

document and the regulation order, the regulation language applies.

Testing Procedures

Opacity testing procedures can be found in subsection (k)(1)(B) of the regulation text.

Test procedures for Main Propulsion Engines by certified tester:

1. Transit vessel to a safe location in open waters

2. Stop vessel, clutch-in with engines at idle

3. Transition controls from idle to full throttle within 2 seconds

4. Record opacity measurement for 15 seconds or until engines reach full power,

whichever is longer

5. Repeat test procedure five more times

6. Final opacity measurement will be the average of the 0.5-second maximum of the last

three accelerations

Opacity Measurement Locations:

• For vessels with dry exhaust system: measurements are taken at the exhaust stack.

• For vessels with wet exhaust system or exhaust exits near the waterline: measurements

are taken near the engine (post-DPF if equipped) but before the point/location of any

seawater injection into exhaust system utilizing either a full or partial-flow opacity

meter capable of sampling exhaust from a fitting on the exhaust pipe.

Additional Compliance Requirements

New Engine Exemption:

• Engines with model year 2020 or newer are exempt from biennial testing until four

years after the model year of the engine.

• For example, a 2021 model year engine is exempt until 2025, and the first opacity test

of the engine must be performed and reported to CARB by March 31, 2026.

Vessels Coming to Operate in California:

• If any vessel(s) coming from outside of California will be in Regulated California

Waters (RCW) for more than 30 consecutive days,

o engines are newly installed on a vessel (such as a newly acquired engine or a

swing engine), or a vessel has been out of service and in dry-dock,

opacity testing must be performed and reported on all applicable engines within 30

days of operating within RCW, unless the engine meets the new engine exemption

above or has been tested to meet opacity limits within the last two years.

• If such a vessel remains in RCW, the test results would satisfy opacity testing

requirements required by March 31 of the next even-numbered calendar year.

• For example, if a vessel was tested in December 2025, this test would satisfy the test

required by March 31, 2026, and the vessel’s next required opacity test would be by

March 31, 2028.

Requirements for Swing Engines:

• Swing engines are exempt from opacity testing requirements when kept dockside,

however they must be tested within 30 days of being installed into a vessel.

Alternative Compliance Methods:

• If the required snap testing procedure for main propulsion engines is not feasible due

to safety concerns or engine configuration, CARB may approve an alternative

compliance method.

o The alternative method must include detection of an increase in soot

accumulation rates in the aftertreatment control device and describe how the

owner or operator will be able to provide necessary maintenance and repair.

• For Category 2 or 3 engines, a letter provided by a third-party SAE- or OEM-certified

technician demonstrating the engine is in proper operating condition may be provided

to CARB.