Port of Long Beach wins EPA Clean Air award

This is the second year in a row that the Port has earned the recognition, one of EPA’s top awards for environmental efforts. The Green Flag program offers reduced dockage fees to shipping companies that voluntarily slow down their ships to 12 knots within 20 nautical miles of Point Fermin in San Pedro. Slower ships burn less fuel and emit less air pollution. Since the incentive program began in 2006, the number of vessels slowing down for cleaner air has increased from 76 percent to 94 percent in 2008. The program is cutting 678 tons a year of Nitrogen Oxides (NOX), 453 tons of sulfur oxides (SOX), 60 tons of diesel particulate matter (PM) and more than 26,000 tons of greenhouse gases. The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners recently expanded the slowdown zone to 40 nautical miles for additional pollution reductions. Since this program expansion went into effect, the number of vessels slowing down in the 20 to 40 nautical mile zone has increased from 40 percent last year to 75 percent by March 2009. Under the Green Flag rules, ocean carriers that achieve 90 percent or higher compliance rate in a calendar year qualify for a 15 percent reduction in dockage fees from the Port the following year. In 2008, ocean carriers saved an estimated $1.6 million in fees while helping reduce air pollution. The port has committed $2.2 million a year to the program.