Attached at Annex A, please find the monthly report prepared by the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) for June 2024.

1. Provides an overview of the EPA’s Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) regulations, which are now with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for final review, and may take up to three months. The EPA is expected to meet the court- imposed deadline and once the OMB review is complete, the final rule will be published in the Federal Register. The regulations will not take effect until the US Coast Guard publishes its corresponding rule;
2. Makes a note that the USCG seeks input on streamlining ballast water and vessel discharge reporting and recordkeeping, with comments due by July 22, 2024. The goal is to consolidate these requirements under VIDA and improve electronic submission. CSA encourages members responsible for compliance to provide feedback. Specific questions are detailed in the Federal Register document;
3. Outlines that the Pacific Environment commissioned a decarbonisation study for ocean-going vessels from UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy. The study, available online, details low and zero-emission technologies and recommends state and federal actions if IMO efforts lag. CSA supports an international approach and doubts US states’ legal authority to set their own ETS programs;
4. Notes that, at MEPC 81, the IMO issued guidance on ballast water management. Resolution MEPC.387(81) addresses ships facing challenging water quality (CWQ) conditions, detailing mitigation measures for non-compliant ballast water management systems (BWMS). Circular BWM.2/Circ.82 provides procedures for temporarily storing treated sewage and grey water in ballast tanks. Both emphasise planning and communication with port and flag states and are available on the IMO website;
5. And the report provides that five US labour unions petitioned the USTR, alleging China’s unfair practices in maritime and shipbuilding, requesting remedial measures like a port fee on Chinese-built vessels. The USTR is investigating the claims but not the proposed remedies. CSA opposes the port fee, arguing it would unfairly impact current vessel owners rather than China’s shipbuilding industry.

ICS(24)13 -Annex A – CSA Monthly Report June 2024