SB 253

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                                      SENATE BILL NO. 253
                      IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
                   THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION
 BY SENATOR KIEHL
 Introduced: 2/19/26
 Referred: Resources, Finance
                                              A BILL
                                     FOR AN ACT ENTITLED
1  "An Act relating to the sulfur content of marine fuel."
2  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
3    * Section 1. AS 30 is amended by adding a new chapter to read:
4Chapter 35. Marine Fuel.
5Sec. 30.35.010. Marine fuel in coastal waters. Except as provided in this
6chapter, a person may not use marine fuel in an auxiliary engine or main engine on a
7vessel operating within applicable waters if the marine fuel exceeds a maximum sulfur
8content of
9(1) 0.1 percent sulfur by weight while the vessel is operating within the
10emission control area; or
11(2) 0.5 percent sulfur by weight while the vessel is operating outside
12the emission control area.
13Sec. 30.35.020. Exemptions. (a) A person operating a vessel is exempt from
14the marine fuel requirements in this chapter during an ocean-going voyage that
15consists of continuous and expeditious navigation through applicable waters for the
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1purpose of traversing the applicable waters without calling at two or more ports,
2roadsteads, or terminal facilities in the state. In this subsection, "continuous and
3expeditious navigation" includes stopping and anchoring only if stopping and
4anchoring are required by the United States Coast Guard, rendered necessary by force
5majeure or distress, or made for the purpose of rendering assistance to a person,
6vessel, or aircraft in danger or distress.
7(b) A person operating a vessel is exempt from the marine fuel requirements
8in this chapter if the person intends the vessel to call at one port, roadstead, or terminal
9facility in the state, but the vessel calls on a second port, roadstead, or terminal facility
10in the state because of force majeure, distress, or for the purpose of rendering
11assistance to a person, vessel, or aircraft in danger or distress.
12(c) A person operating a vessel owned or operated by the United States or a
13foreign government is exempt from this chapter.
14(d) The Department of Environmental Conservation may exempt a person
15operating a vessel from this chapter if the person operates the vessel in a manner that
16results in a total sulfur output to the environment that is less than or equivalent to the
17total sulfur output that would result from operating the vessel with a marine fuel that
18does not exceed a maximum sulfur content of 0.1 percent sulfur by weight.
19Sec. 30.35.030. Definitions. In this chapter,
20(1) "applicable waters" has the meaning given to "applicable waters of
21Alaska" in 33 CFR 159.305;
22(2)   "emission control area" means the North American Emission
23Control Area established under the International Convention for the Prevention of
24Pollution from Ships, 1973, Annex VI;
25(3) "marine fuel" means a distillate fuel or residual fuel used for
26combustion purposes for propulsion or operation on board a vessel; "marine fuel" does
27not include natural gas, propane, ethanol, methanol, hydrogen, electricity, fuel cells, or
28a mixture that contains only natural gas, propane, ethanol, methanol, or hydrogen;
29(4) "roadstead" means a facility that is used for the loading, unloading,
30and anchoring of vessels;
31(5) "vessel" has the meaning given in AS 30.30.170.
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