Crowley Maritime Corporation has been recognized by the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles for the company's efforts to significantly reduce carbon emissions within the two Southern California ports.
Crowley officials were presented with the "Significant Early Action to Reduce Emissions Award" at the third annual San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan Air Quality luncheon held recently in Long Beach.
The Early Action Award is given to companies who have made great strides to reduce pollutant emissions at both ports. Nominations were reviewed by port officials, as well as representatives from several governmental agencies, including the South Coast Air Quality Management District, California Air Resources Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
In naming the Jacksonville-based Crowley as this year's award winner, port officials cited the company's proactive initiative to conduct an extensive engine re-powering of its Harbor Class tugs that provide ship assist and tanker escort services in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
"Over the past several years, the company has been involved in several emissions and energy-saving initiatives in this region, including the installation of shore-side power and four tug engine repowers," said Crowley's director of engineering Bill Metcalf, who accepted the award on behalf of the company. "Those initiatives will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 486,180 pounds, particulate matter emissions by 3.24-tons and mono-nitrogen oxides by 109.52-tons this year alone."
The Crowley tugs Admiral, Leader, Scout and Master were reintroduced to the fleet earlier this year following the installation of Tier II compliant engines. The project was partially funded by the Port of Los Angeles Air Quality Mitigation Incentive Program. The Crowley upgrades were completed nearly three years ahead of a regulatory deadline mandating Tier II emissions compliance.
Crowley also began using a ship-to-shore power system last year for its Long Beach and Los Angeles tugboats. Previously, the tugs tied up at the dock needed to run their generators to provide electrical power. By pulling power from shore-side sources, the tug generators could be shut off while at dock, significantly reducing diesel emissions.
