Long Beach Recognizes Carriers for Environmental Achievement The Port of Long Beach yesterday presented environmental achievement awards to 22 shipping lines that participated this past year in programs that reduce vessel emissions. Last year 98.9 percent of all vessels calling in Long Beach were operated at the reduced speed of 12 knots within 20 nautical miles of the port, and 87.9 percent slowed down within 40 nautical miles. Slower ships burn less fuel and produce less pollution. Vessel operators that participated in this Green Flag program received $2.9 million in reduced dockage fees in 2013. Also, eight shipping lines received a Green Ship award for assigning their cleanest, lowest-emission vessels to Long Beach. Those lines received $436,000 in incentives. Seven vessel operators received an Environmental Achievement award for participating in both the Green Ship and Green Flag programs. Those programs are part of Long Beach’s GreenPort initiatives that reduce pollution from all sources. Since 2005, the clean-air initiatives have reduced emissions of nitrogen oxides by 54 percent, diesel exhaust by 81 percent and sulfur oxides by 88 percent. JOC
Posted on: Sat, 17 May 2014 05:27:25 +0000