Americas News
Port of Long Beach Acknowledges Latest Emissions Reduction Efforts
The Port of Long Beach (PoLB) says it is working to encourage and support companies' environmental initiatives at the port, having recently issued a declaration of support for Wan Hai Lines Ltd. (Wan Hai) in its use of emission reducing technology and presented an environmental achievement award to PAO Sovcomflot (Sovcomflot).
Wan Hai says it recently signed a cooperation agreement with Advanced Environmental Group LLC (AEG) that will see the shipping line use AEG's barge-based scrubber system, which will connect to vessels' exhaust ports to capture emissions while at berth.
The system has been approved as an alternative to meet regulations that otherwise require vessels to use of shore power.
"We believe that the AMECS solution is the most flexible alternative to meeting the CARB requirements. By utilising a barge-based solution, we will be able to deploy the most suitable ships for our services for many years to come," said Randy Chen, Vice Chairman of Wan Hai.
Jon Slangerup, CEO of PoLB, commented: "As the Green Port, Long Beach encourages and supports innovative ways to meet State and Federal environmental requirements."
Meanwhile, Sovcomflot last week announced that the PoLB awarded the shipping company the Green Environmental Achievement Award for its "ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship" through fleet performance by the Port of Long Beach Green Flag Program in 2015.
Sovcomflot notes that it also received the award in 2011.
As Ship & Bunker reported in March, PoLB says its Green Flag Program, which offers financial rewards for reducing vessel speed near the harbour to decrease emissions, enabled shipping lines calling at the port to cut thousands of tonnes of air pollution during 2015.
