Shipping Companies Lauded

By Karen Robes Meeks

Eleven shipping companies have been recognized by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation for their efforts to reduce vessel speeds to less than 12 knots, a measure that curbs air emissions and improves whale safety.

Honorees, who were feted at Banning’s Landing Community Center near the Port of Los Angeles, included CMA CGM, Evergreen, Hamburg Sud, Hapag Lloyd, Hyundai, K Line, Maersk, Matson, MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), NYK (Nippon Yusen Kaisha) Ro/Ro Division, and Yang Ming.

"Our national marine sanctuaries provide opportunities to build innovative partnerships for on-the-water conservation that protect rare species and the places they call home," said Kris Sarri, president and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. "The voluntary vessel speed reduction program is one example of how we can create a win-win for conservation and the health of coastal communities by engaging shipping companies in reducing whale mortality from ship strikes and improving air quality for children while maintaining commerce."

The voluntary program, which took place from July 1 to November 15, included first-time zones in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Santa Barbara Channel region.

"The expansion of the vessel speed reduction program in 2017 demonstrates that ocean commerce and ocean conservation can work together when the shipping industry, NGOs, and government are in partnership," said Chris Mobley, superintendent, NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

Companies Lauded for Slowing Down in Santa Barbara Channel

By Mark Edward Nero

Participants in an initiative to cut air pollution and protect whales have announced results from the 2016 voluntary incentive program and publicly recognized 10 shipping companies that participated, reducing speeds in the Santa Barbara Channel region to 12 knots or less.

The program, which started July 1 and ended Nov. 15, 2016, saw the following shipping companies participate in the 2016 vessel speed reduction incentive program: CMA CGM, Evergreen, Hamburg Sud, Hapag Lloyd, Holland, K Line, Maersk, MOL, NYK Line and Yang Ming.

A recognition ceremony took place recently at the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting in Santa Barbara, located about 95 miles north of Los Angeles.

The program was a collaborative effort by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and Volgenau Foundation.

Automatic identification system data for ship speeds in the program verified that more than 80 percent of the enrolled transits were successful in reducing speeds to 12 knots or less, and transits were successful in achieving an additional bonus incentive for slowing to 10 knots or less. The program reduced more than 27 tons of emissions of nitrogen oxides and more than 1,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases.

Ships account for more than 50 percent of NOx emissions in Santa Barbara County and over 25 percent of NOx emissions in Ventura County. Ship strikes are also a major threat to recovering endangered and threatened whale populations, including blue, humpback, and fin whales. Slowing ship speeds reduces air pollution and has been shown to reduce the risk of fatal strikes on whales.

“With two of the busiest ports in the world, thousands of vessels travel through the Santa Barbara Channel and the Channel Island National Marine Sanctuary. These vessels pose collision threats to large whales,” explained Kris Sarri, president and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

Incentives ranged from $1,500 to $2,500 depending on historical speeds in the program area. Additional incentives up to $1,250 were available for ships that slow to 10 knots or less; submit detailed whale sightings reports; and demonstrate that schedules were adjusted so that the ships did not need to speed up elsewhere along the route.

The partners said they’re now working on identifying funding sources for a 2017 VSR incentive program, expected to start June 1.

Shipping, Cruise Lines Honored by LA Port

The Port of Los Angeles on June 25 honored 26 shipping and cruise lines for participating in the port’s Vessel Speed Reduction Program initiative, which involves the lowering of vessel speeds when ships approach the port.

The VSRP, which was established in 2001, is a voluntary program designed to reduce emissions from ocean-going vessels by slowing their speeds as they approach or depart the port at either 20 or 40 nautical miles offshore. The port pays incentives to shipping lines that achieve a 90 percent or higher participation rate in VSRP in a calendar year.

The port says that in 2012, it achieved 100-percent compliance for 543 vessels at 20 nautical miles and 386 vessels at 40 nautical miles. The voluntary actions helped reduce 73 tons of diesel particulate matter as well as 740 tons of sulfur oxide and 981 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions.

VSRP honorees this year included APL, China Navigation Co., China Shipping, CMA CGM, Crystal Cruises, CSAV, Evergreen Marine Corp., Grieg Star Shipping A/S, Hamburg SUD, Hanjin Shipping Co., Hapag-Lloyd AG, Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Kawasaki Kisen Kaish, Maersk Line, Mitsui Bulkship, Mitsui OSK Lines, MSC Mediterranean Shipping, Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Nissan Motor Car Carrier, Norwegian Cruise Line, Orient Overseas Container Line, Princess Cruises, Saga Forest Carriers Intl. AS, Tesoro, Tokyo Marine Co. and Yang Ming Marine Transport.

Additionally, for the first time, the port also honored 12 ship carriers for their participation in the Environmental Ship Index (ESI), an international clean air program rewarding ocean carriers for bringing their newest and cleanest vessels to the port.

The program, which is also underway at several large European ports, involves a web-based tool that tracks and rewards vessel operators for voluntary engine, fuel and technology enhancements that reduce emissions from ships beyond the regulatory environmental standards set by the International Maritime Organization. Vessels calling on the port can earn financial incentives by meeting certain environmental and emission requirements tracked by the web-based tool.

Honored for their participation in the ESI program were K-Line America, APL, CMA CGM, Evergreen Line, Hamburg Sud, Hapag-Lloyd AG, Maersk Line, Mediterranean Shipping Co., MOL, Nippon Yusen Kaisha, OOCL and Yang Ming Marine Transport.

“We applaud our shipping and cruise lines for embracing our vision for a greener, cleaner port,” Port of LA Executive Director Geraldine Knatz said. “Our customers’ voluntary participation in these important emission reduction programs greatly contributes to better, healthier air quality in and around the San Pedro Bay.”

 

 

Long Beach Port Moves Forward on $9M Incentive Package

The policy-setting governing board for the Port of Long Beach gave preliminary approval Monday to a $9 million incentive program to further boost carrier participation in a speed reduction program aimed at cutting emissions from ocean-going vessels as they enter and exit the port.

Branded the "Green Flag" program by the port, the program incentivizes carriers that slow down to 12 knots or less within 40 nautical miles of the port entrance by offering reduced dockage fees. According to the port, more than 70 percent of the vessels eligible for the incentives participated in the program in 2009. To help boost this number to the port's minimum goal of 90 percent participation, the port board's incentive package includes an additional $3 million to cover reduced dockage fees.

The incentive package also included nearly $6 million for a program designed to attract more rail cargo to the port by offering fee discounts to terminal operators. The increased incentive funding will allow the port to extend the program, originally set to expire April 30, to run through the end of the year.

The port board is expected to give final approval to the incentive package before the end of the month.