Slowing down to cut emissions
Six global shipping companies are participating in a new trial incentive programme in the Santa Barbara Channel off the coast of California to slow cargo ships down in order to reduce air pollution.
COSCO, Hapag Lloyd, K Line, Maersk Line, Matson and the United Arab Shipping Company will all reduce the speed of some of their ships travelling between the Point Conception and the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach from 18 knots down to 12.
The trial will also help to reduce the number of ship strikes to recovering whale populations helping to protect the marine environment.
This new incentive trail, which will run from July through to October, is modelled after successful speed reduction programmes that have been implemented at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles where over 90% of shipping lines participate.
Its developers are the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (CAPCD), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Environmental Defense Center.
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will manage payments with funding from the CAPCD. Payments will be verified after speeds have been verified using AIS monitors monitoring information from the ships’ transponders.
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