Celebrating the maritime industry’s continued efforts to reduce diesel emissions in the Puget Sound region, the Port of Tacoma Commission recently applauded the voluntary environmental stewardship of ocean carriers and authorized a new, fee-free, market based program to reduce emissions from trucks that serve the Port.
“Our customers and business partners have worked with Port staff and our clean air authorities to develop comprehensive and market-led approaches to environmental stewardship,” said Port of Tacoma Commission President Clare Petrich. “Their decisions to voluntarily participate in these efforts are voluntary and they come at a cost. But they recognize that today that environmental stewardship makes good sense and is good business.” By special resolution, the Commission recognized Tacoma ocean carrier customers Evergreen, “K” Line, Maersk Line and Horizon Lines for voluntarily switching to cleaner-burning low-sulfur distillate fuel at berth. Use of the cleaner fuel reduces sulfur dioxide emissions up to 80 percent and cuts diesel particulates up to 70 percent. Reducing diesel emissions from ocean-going vessels is a key component of the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, adopted in 2007 by the Port of Tacoma, Port of Seattle and Port Metro Vancouver (Canada). The strategy sets performance goals to reduce diesel emissions and greenhouse gases from ships, rail, cargo handling equipment, harbour craft and trucks.
