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SB253 • 2026

SULFUR CONTENT OF MARINE FUEL

An Act relating to the sulfur content of marine fuel.

Energy
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
SENATOR KIEHL
Last action
2026-03-09
Official status
(S) RES
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Official bill summary and text do not provide specific details on enforcement or consequences for violations, leaving this information uncertain.

Setting Limits on Sulfur in Marine Fuel

This act sets limits on how much sulfur can be in marine fuel used by ships operating within certain areas of Alaska's coast.

What This Bill Does

  • Limits the amount of sulfur allowed in marine fuel for ships operating within applicable waters of Alaska, with a maximum sulfur content of 0.1% while inside an emission control area and 0.5% outside this area.
  • Provides exemptions from these limits under specific circumstances, such as continuous navigation through the waters without stopping at ports or for emergency situations.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Ships operating in Alaska's coastal waters
  • People who own or operate ships that use marine fuel

Terms To Know

emission control area
A designated area where stricter pollution controls apply, as defined by international maritime regulations.
marine fuel
Fuel used for ships, including distillate and residual fuels but not natural gas or other alternative fuels.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the consequences for violating sulfur content limits.
  • It is unclear how enforcement of these regulations will be carried out.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-09 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  2. 2026-03-09 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  3. 2026-03-04 Text

    (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled>

  4. 2026-03-04 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  5. 2026-02-19 1730

    (S) REFERRED TO RESOURCES

  6. 2026-02-19 1730

    (S) RES, FIN

  7. 2026-02-19 1730

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

SULFUR CONTENT OF MARINE FUEL
An Act relating to the sulfur content of marine fuel.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB0253A -1- SB 253
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0562\H

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

"An Act relating to the sulfur content of marine fuel." 1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 2
* Section 1. AS 30 is amended by adding a new chapter to read: 3
Chapter 35. Marine Fuel. 4
Sec. 30.35.010. Marine fuel in coastal waters. Except as provided in this 5
chapter, a person may not use marine fuel in an auxiliary engine or main engine on a 6
vessel operating within applicable waters if the marine fuel exceeds a maximum sulfur 7
content of 8
(1) 0.1 percent sulfur by weight while the vessel is operating within the 9
emission control area; or 10
(2) 0.5 percent sulfur by weight while the vessel is operating outside 11
the emission control area. 12
Sec. 30.35.020. Exemptions. (a) A person operating a vessel is exempt from 13
the marine fuel requirements in this chapter during an ocean-going voyage that 14
consists of continuous and expeditious navigation through applicable waters for the 15
34-LS0562\H
SB 253 -2- SB0253A
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

purpose of traversing the applicable waters without calling at two or more ports, 1
roadsteads, or terminal facilities in the state. In this subsection, "continuous and 2
expeditious navigation" includes stopping and anchoring only if stopping and 3
anchoring are required by the United States Coast Guard, rendered necessary by force 4
majeure or distress, or made for the purpose of rendering assistance to a person, 5
vessel, or aircraft in danger or distress. 6
(b) A person operating a vessel is exempt from the marine fuel requirements 7
in this chapter if the person intends the vessel to call at one port, roadstead, or terminal 8
facility in the state, but the vessel calls on a second port, roadstead, or terminal facility 9
in the state because of force majeure, distress, or for the purpose of rendering 10
assistance to a person, vessel, or aircraft in danger or distress. 11
(c) A person operating a vessel owned or operated by the United States or a 12
foreign government is exempt from this chapter. 13
(d) The Department of Environmental Conservation may exempt a person 14
operating a vessel from this chapter if the person operates the vessel in a manner that 15
results in a total sulfur output to the environment that is less than or equivalent to the 16
total sulfur output that would result from operating the vessel with a marine fuel that 17
does not exceed a maximum sulfur content of 0.1 percent sulfur by weight. 18
Sec. 30.35.030. Definitions. In this chapter, 19
(1) "applicable waters" has the meaning given to "applicable waters of 20
Alaska" in 33 CFR 159.305; 21
(2) "emission control area" means the North American Emission 22
Control Area established under the International Convention for the Prevention of 23
Pollution from Ships, 1973, Annex VI; 24
(3) "marine fuel" means a distillate fuel or residual fuel used for 25
combustion purposes for propulsion or operation on board a vessel; "marine fuel" does 26
not include natural gas, propane, ethanol, methanol, hydrogen, electricity, fuel cells, or 27
a mixture that contains only natural gas, propane, ethanol, methanol, or hydrogen; 28
(4) "roadstead" means a facility that is used for the loading, unloading, 29
and anchoring of vessels; 30
(5) "vessel" has the meaning given in AS 30.30.170. 31