Twenty shipping lines that have engaged in efforts to
improve air quality locally by slowing down or deploying cleaner vessels – or
both – were honored by the Port of Long Beach during the port’s annual Green
Flag and Green Ship awards luncheon May 30.
Long Beach created its Green Flag Program in 2005, and as of
2012 almost 96 percent of all ships calling at Long Beach slowed to 12 knots
within 20 nautical miles of the port.
In 2009, the port added a 40 nautical mile option and as of last
year, more than 83 percent of vessels slowed from 40 nautical miles, therefore burning
less fuel and generating less pollution. Thirteen shipping lines were found to
be top performers in 2012, earning Green Flags this year. An additional 10 shipping
lines received the first Green Ship awards, a program that since July 2012 has
encouraged vessel operators to assign the cleanest ships to Long Beach. Three
companies – Hanjin Shipping, Mediterranean Shipping Co. and Orient Overseas
Container Line – collected both Green Flags and Green Ship awards during the
luncheon.
“These fleets are the top performers in an industry that is
working to reduce its environmental impact,” Long Beach Board of Harbor
Commissioners President Susan E. Anderson Wise said.
Since the launch of the ship-slowing program in 2005, more
than 200 vessel operators have been awarded Green Flags and qualified for
reductions on dockage fees. The port says the program has been instrumental in
helping it decrease diesel pollution from all port-related operations by 75
percent since 2005.
Green Flag participants were awarded $2.5 million in dockage
fee discounts in 2012 as part of the program. And since the Green Ship Program
began in July 2012, the port has awarded $135,000 in incentives.
The full list of 2013 Green Flag and Green Ship award
recipients can be seen at: http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=1175&TargetID=1.
