A second report has been published on how the Recreational Craft Directive 2013/53/EU should be updated going forward.
In this much-awaited report, the European Commission has assessed the technological and economic feasibility of further reducing exhaust emissions produced by recreational craft and their fuel systems.
It also evaluates the appropriateness of the current watercraft design categories in light of different weather conditions and the impact of this categorisation on manufacturers and end-users.
Exhaust emissions
The report found that approximately 80% of recreational craft currently in service are not covered by the exhaust emissions limits introduced by the RCD in 2016. Despite this, real-world exhaust emissions from recreational craft will fall as the fleet is gradually replaced and equipped with modern, clean engines. A further reduction of exhaust emissions from recreational craft engines is technically feasible with the installation of advanced catalyst technologies, but they’re a high and long-term investment with a payback period of 16-20 years.
Exhaust emissions can also be reduced by using electric and hybrid engines. Though currently, these applications are competitive only for low-powered motor boats and some sailing boats, their uptake will increase when the forementioned limitations are tackled. The Commission said it will continue to closely monitor technological and market developments and where appropriate, use legislative proposals to set more ambitious emission standards going forward.
Evaporative emissions
Evaporative emissions from recreational craft are not currently regulated under the RCD because they account for a very small proportion of HC emissions from the transport sector, but they can accumulate in ports and boat storage spaces when recreational craft are left idle.
Therefore, the report said that introducing evaporative emission limits would be feasible, as the technologies to control these emissions from recreational craft exist and are already used in the United States. It would, however, require a significant financial investment by European suppliers of fuel tanks and hoses to adopt the technologies for controlling evaporative emissions. However, the payback period for implementing evaporative emissions’ control measures on recreational craft would be approximately 20 years for EU recreational craft manufacturers.
Because evaporative emissions will naturally decrease alongside the progressive electrification of the engines of recreational craft, the Commission said it will continue to monitor the electrification process of the engines of recreational craft and its impact on exhaust as well as evaporative emissions from recreational craft.
It will also consider introducing evaporative emission limits as part of a future revision of the RCD taking into account the existing US standards as well as other major market initiatives.
Watercraft design
The report found that the current division of the watercraft design categories based on meteorological criteria (combination of wind force and wave height) is appropriate and supported by manufacturers, as well as by end-users/consumers.
Therefore, a modification of these categories would have a significant economic impact on manufacturers, end-users/consumers and standardisation bodies and would not improve the safety of recreational craft. Still, the Commission said it will continue to monitor the implementation of the watercraft design categories within the current legal framework, but it may consider stating upper limits for design category A in a future revision.
At this moment in time, the Commission appears to be leaning towards a revision rather than an amendment of the RCD at a date yet to be determined.
Read the full report: EU RCEU RCD ReportD Report
