HR4341-119

What This Bill Does

The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act creates a reporting-and-fee system for large cargo voyages involving U.S. ports. Starting January 1, 2027, operators of covered voyages by cargo vessels of at least 5,000 gross tons must report route, time, fuel consumption, cargo mass, ports, intermediate offloads, grid connection time, polar travel, and other data EPA needs to calculate fees. EPA must build lifecycle fuel profiles for carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions and assess a fee equal to fuel mass times CO2e emissions times $150, with annual inflation plus 5 percentage point increases and tripled rates for fuel used north of 60 degrees north latitude or south of 60 degrees south latitude. EPA also must profile nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and fine particulate matter and assess criteria-pollutant fees of $6.30, $18, and $38.90 per pound-equivalent formula respectively, with annual inflation adjustments. The bill excludes Jones Act vessels, military cargo, food aid, disaster or emergency supplies, and certain OCS-source voyages from covered-voyage fees. Beginning in fiscal year 2029, 25 percent of collected fees go to the Maritime Administration for grants, rebates, or low-interest loans to replace or retrofit existing Jones Act vessels that use marine fuel oil so they are powered only by batteries, low-carbon fuels, or other zero-emission technologies.

Who Benefits and How

Port communities benefit because the bill charges maritime greenhouse-gas and criteria-air-pollutant emissions linked to poor local air quality. Zero-emission vessel technology providers benefit from Maritime Administration grants, rebates, and loans for Jones Act vessel replacement or retrofit. Jones Act vessel owners benefit from eligibility for decarbonization awards funded by 25 percent of maritime pollution fee collections. EPA emissions analysts benefit from detailed voyage, fuel, cargo, port-call, and grid-connection data for covered voyages.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Operators of covered cargo voyages must report detailed voyage and fuel data to EPA beginning January 1, 2027. International cargo vessel operators must pay lifecycle CO2e and criteria-pollutant fees after EPA assessment. EPA must develop fuel emission profiles, assess fees within 30 days of reports, and administer adjustments and exemptions. Importers and shippers may face higher transportation costs if vessel operators pass through pollution fees.

Key Provisions

• Requires covered-voyage reporting for large cargo vessels beginning January 1, 2027.
• Creates a lifecycle CO2e maritime fuel fee starting at $150 per metric-ton-equivalent factor with annual inflation plus 5 percentage point increases.
• Creates criteria-air-pollutant fees for nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and fine particulate matter from maritime fuel use.
• Appropriates 25 percent of collected fees starting in fiscal year 2029 for zero-emission Jones Act vessel grants, rebates, and low-interest loans.