On October 26, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking for ship emissions: Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance (VIDA). The proposed standard is specially formulated according to the Vessel Incidental Discharge law (VIDA) signed at the end of 2018. It aims to replace the 2013 Vessel General Permit(VGP) with a new standard, so as to provide more comprehensive guidance for ship pollution discharge. The project was mainly supported and participated by EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).

The VIDA applies to:

· Commercial vessels greater than 79 feet in length; 

· Other non-recreational, non-Armed Forces vessels, such as research and emergency rescue vessels; and

· Ballast water only from small vessels (vessels less than 79 feet in length) and fishing vessels of all sizes.

VIDA requires USCG to formulate corresponding measures and mandatory regulations within two years after the publication of the proposed rulemaking. The standard is expected to be officially implemented in 2022, until the provisions of the EPA 2013 VGP, the USCG ballast water regulations, and state and local government requirements remain in force and effect.