More than 135 shipping lines at the Port of Long Beach were applauded for voluntarily participating in Port of Long Beach ‘Green Flag Incentive Program’ which offers financial incentives for cargo vessels to reduce speed near the port with the goal to reduce air pollution.
Specifically, the Program was firstly launched in 2005. From that time, the port also began including vessel speed reduction for ships as a requirement of new leases with its terminal operator tenants.
Ocean carriers were recently presented with Green Flags for opting into the environmental initiative last year by slowing ships to 12 knots or less within 20 or 40 nautical miles of the Port of Long Beach. In addition, the ocean carriers achieve more than 90% compliance rate, while also are eligible for a 25% reduction in dockage rates at the 40 nautical mile mark, while those slowing down within 20 nautical miles receive a 15% break in fees.
Moreover, the speed reduction in the port area presents the emission of 45,999 tonnes of GHG and 1,000 tonnes of general air pollution annually.
Tracy Egoscue, President of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners commented
Our shipping line partners play an important role in our efforts to improve air quality at the Port and our surrounding communities. We’ve made dramatic reductions in air pollution emissions thanks to the industry and its enthusiastic cooperation.
For the year 2018, 136 shipping lines met or exceeded the program’s required 90% participation rate at either 20 or 40 nautical miles. Within 20 nautical miles, 95.8% of vessels slowed down, while 91.14% slowed down within 40 nautical miles.
Mario Cordero, Executive Director of the Port of Long Beach concluded
This voluntary initiative is a win-win by granting financial rewards to nearly all of our ocean carriers while also dramatically decreasing pollution at the Port.
