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China Navigation Co. Pte. Ltd. has been fined $129,500 by The California Air Resources Board (ARB) for failure to switch its engines over from heavy diesel bunker fuel to low-sulphur fuel when close to the California coast, as required by state law.

According to the ARB, on December 28, 2012, one of its inspectors found that the vessel Chenan, managed by China Navigation Co. Pte. Ltd., operated within Regulated California Waters (i.e. 24 miles or less from the coast) on non-compliant heavy fuel oil on 12 separate days (four voyages) between August 5 and December 28, 2012, while en route to and departing from the Port of Los Angeles.

"Ships using heavy diesel fuels are a significant contributor to California's air quality problems, even in communities located far from our coast," commented the ARB's Enforcement Division Chief, Todd Sax.

"That's why we check vessels nearly every day to ensure that they are compliant with our strict clean air laws. When we identify a violation, we educate the fleet owner and crew on how to comply with our requirements, and we assess penalties as a deterrent to future noncompliance."

China Navigation Co. Pte. Ltd. is said to have taken "prompt action" after being notified of the violations, and to have cooperated with the investigation. In addition to paying a fine, the company agreed to comply with all fuel switchover requirements and to keep accurate records going forward, the ARB said.

The Air Resources Board says it conducts an estimated 800 to 1,000 ship inspections each year, checking for proper fuel usage, record-keeping and other compliance requirements. Part of the inspection involves sampling each vessel's fuel, and analyzing the fuel sample for compliance with fuel sulphur requirements.

The Ocean Going Vessel Fuels Regulation, adopted in 2008, is estimated to eliminate 15 tonnes of diesel exhaust daily from ocean-going vessels.

In 1998, California identified diesel particulate matter as a toxic air contaminant based on its potential to cause cancer, premature death and other health problems.