# What the International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act Actually Does

This bill creates a new fee system for large cargo ships that bring goods to the United States. Starting in 2025, shipping companies would have to pay charges based on how much pollution their vessels produce during voyages that deliver cargo to American ports. The fee is designed to make shipping companies pay for the environmental damage caused by their operations, particularly the greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution that harm communities near ports.

Here's how it works in practice: When a cargo ship carrying 10,000 tons or more arrives at a U.S. port, the shipping company must report detailed information about the voyage—including how much fuel was burned, what type of fuel it was, how far the ship traveled, and how long it spent in port. The EPA then calculates a fee based on the ship's carbon emissions. The base fee starts at $150 per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent, but this amount increases each year by inflation plus an additional 5 percentage points. For ships traveling in polar regions (above 60 degrees north or below 60 degrees south latitude), the fee is tripled, since polar routes are considered more environmentally sensitive.

The bill includes real teeth for enforcement. If a shipping company doesn't pay the fee by the deadline, the Coast Guard can prevent that company's vessels from operating in U.S. waters or docking at American ports until the bill is paid. This is meant to ensure compliance, though there's an exception if preventing a ship from docking would create safety risks. The money collected from these fees would go to the federal government, though the bill doesn't specify how it would be used. Ultimately, these costs will likely be passed along to importers and consumers through higher prices on goods shipped from overseas.