Since Tier 4 engines and technology that meet the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) air quality standards are too large and heavy for existing engine rooms and operate at very high temperatures. A California Maritime report (PDF), commissioned by CARB, concluded modifications to existing engines would “significantly” impact vessel stability and create safety issues for passengers and crew. CARB’s solution is to mandate boat owners to build larger, steel vessels for millions of dollars to accommodate the equipment. But since the existing vessel doesn’t meet the mandates, the vessel owner won’t even be able to sell their existing boat that was custom built for trips off California’s coast.
Commercial passenger boats are family operated business and they simply can’t afford to build CARB compliant new boats that will cost between $4.6 million and $5.7 million dollars, especially when their non-compliant boats will have no resale value in California. For those who may try to buy new boats, there is no conceivable way to maintain current passenger loads by tripling the price of passenger tickets to pay off boat loans. Ocean access will become only affordable for the one-percenters that can already afford to purchase their own boats.
CARB’s economic assessment grossly understates their conclusion that the proposed regulations could lead to (just) “some business elimination.” Rob Southwick, an expert in sportfishing market research and economics, concluded that, “Any assumption that costs can be fully or even partially passed along to customers without decreasing participation is simply wrong. If boat operators were in a position to charge higher prices, just like any business, they already would have. Without a doubt, price increases will harm Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel operators and likewise the local communities that depend on them.”
Given that CARB has refused to disclose its vessel replacement data or bids from a reputable shipbuilder, SAC commissioned its own analysis with the assistance of a shipbuilder, a Certified Public Account (CPA) and Southwick and Associates.
Sportfishing Association of California
5060 N. Harbor Drive, #165, San Diego, CA 92106
916.817.4444