Some of the largest diesel engines made are used at America’s ports. Roughly 2,000 establishments are engaged in deep water, coastal and inland water transportation – employing 73,000 individuals with a payroll of $2.8 billion.

Diesels are the driving force for almost all commercial water vessels and port operations. Examples include:

• Large diesel-powered tankers bring natural resource imports into the U.S.
• Diesel helps move American products to our ports and overseas.
• Tugboats tow large barges providing home heating oil during the winter.
• Cruise ships carry vacationers to destinations from Florida to the Caribbean.
• Ferries used for passeger and vehicle transportation as well as emergency response.
• Large slow-speed diesels have replaced steam turbines as the engine of choice for large ocean vessels. Slow-speed diesels are two-stroke engines that run at low engine revolutions allowing for direct drive applications to turn propellers.
• Medium- to high-speed diesels constitute the bulk of engines on medium and small vessels, including ferries to tug boats.

Regulations and Standards

ShipPort and vessel operators in the U.S. are regulated by both the Clean Air Act and Annex VI of the International Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). The MARPOL regulation sets limits on nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulfur oxide emissions from ship exhausts, and the emission of ozone depleting substances. Additional regulations have been proposed by EPA.

Large manufacturers are already producing and designing engines to meet the strictest of environmental standards for marine vessels and port equipment. A number of clean diesel technologies, including cold-ironing (on-shore electrical plug-ins) and retrofitting yard equipment, are proving to be effective air quality solutions at American ports.
Economic Impact

Some of the largest diesel engines made are used at America's ports. Roughly 2,000 establishments are engaged in deep water, coastal and inland water transportation-- employing 73,000 individuals with a payroll of $2.8 billion.

Water carriers move 563 million tons of freight each year-- worth $76 billion. Nearly all of the bulk carriers that transport oil, ore, wheat, and other goods are diesel powered, as are the containerships that transport the majority of all manufactured imports and exports.

• Approximately, eight percent of the country's total freight tonnage travels by barge through the 12,000 miles of commercially viable inland channels.
• A total of 650 million tons of freight including, 60 percent of the nation's grain exports, 24 percent of its chemical and petroleum shipments, and 20 percent of its domestic coal are moved through this network all propelled by diesel power.

There are no viable alternative power sources that provide the efficiency, fuel economy and power of diesel engines for these marine-based services.