Long Beach Port Improves Air For 11 Years
Shipping lines calling at the Port of Long Beach cut thousands of tons of air pollution last year by voluntarily participating in the Port's Green Flag Program, which offers financial rewards for ships that reduce their speed near the harbor to decrease emissions. The program, initiated 11 years ago as part of Long Beach's Green Port Policy, gives participants a Green Flag to celebrate their environmental accomplishments and dockage rate breaks to shipping lines slowing to 12 knots or less within 20 or 40 nautical miles of the Port. In 2015, 154 vessel operators met or exceeded the program’s required 90 percent participation rate at either 20 or 40 nautical miles.
Port to Test New Clean-air System
The Port of Long Beach will fund testing of a new air pollution-control technology for docked cargo ships, thanks to an agreement approved Monday by the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. Under the pact, the Port would rely upon regional air quality authorities to oversee a demonstration project to thoroughly assess both the safety and the pollution-reducing effectiveness of a mobile, barge-mounted emissions control system to capture and treat ships’ smokestack emissions.
POLB Formalizes Its Energy Policy
The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners' energy policy aims to secure a more sustainable and resilient supply of power as demand grows. The Energy Policy declares that the Port will implement measures to increase efficiency, conservation, resiliency, and renewable energy in collaboration with port tenants, utilities, other city departments, industry stakeholders, labor unions, the Port of Los Angeles and others. It was created in anticipation of increasing demand for electricity at the Port with air quality improvement programs such as “shore power,” which allows massive cargo ships to shut down diesel engines and plug into landside electricity while at berth.
Plug In to AMP or Stay Away from California Ports
Come Jan. 1, 2014, the maritime industry in California faces a looming reality: ships must link up to port alternative maritime power (AMP). “Compliance is not optional,” said T.L. Garrett, vice president of Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. Garrett’s group represents the majority of international shipping lines and terminal operators doing business on the West Coast; most of them will be impacted by state rules to go into effect next year mandating the use of shore power for container, reefer and cruise ships.
