New federal government regulations are to crack down on harmful emissions from ships and trains.

The new Clean Air Locomotive and Marine Diesel Rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is intended to cut emissions from ship engines and diesel-powered trains by 90 per cent, with a further 80 per cent reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions by 2030.

The rulings, which will bring in increased use of catalytic converters and are set to cost close to $600 million to implement, are expected to affect 21,000 trains and 40,000 boats and ships.

Locomotive companies will be given until 2015 for all new trains to be fitted with catalytic converters, while the compliance date for marine vessels is 2014.

Commenting on the new targets Samuel L Johnson of the EPA said: "By tackling the greatest remaining source of diesel emissions, we're keeping our nation's clean air progress moving full steam ahead.

"Over the last century, diesels have been America's economic workhorse, and through this rule, an economic workhorse is also becoming an environmental workhorse."

Since 2004 locomotives have been converting to diesel in the wake of regulations to limit the sulphur emissions.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd