"Two state lawmakers introduced legislation this month that aims to crack down on a major source of water pollution from cruise ships in Alaska waters.
Sen. Jesse Kiehl and Rep. Sara Hannan, both Democrats from Juneau, each introduced bills that revolve around the type of fuel ships use. The bills vary slightly, but they do essentially the same thing: require ships to use fuel with lower levels of contaminants, including sulfur.
“There is a growing trend around the world toward requiring cleaner fuels that don't have as much sulfur and metals and other other really problematic stuff in them,” Kiehl said.
The legislation zeroes in on something called heavy fuel oil – a tar-like fuel that’s a byproduct of the crude oil refining process."
Source: KHNS/NPR, 03/04/2026
