Port of Long Beach celebrates five years of environmental leadership

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

31 Jan 2010

The Port of Long Beach has announced it is celebrating five successful years of the Green Port Policy and environmental leadership this month.
"In the five years since the policy’s guiding principles were set down, the Port and its partners have amassed an impressive record of environmental accomplishments expected to grow as the Port continues to work to protect the community and wildlife from the environmental effects of its operations," the port said.
The Policy was approved on January 31, 2005 and has led to dramatic decreases in emissions of air pollution in the goods movement industry, the protection of coastal habitats, and sustainable practices in Port operations.
The port also adopted the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan in 2006, which set a goal of reducing air pollution by 45% by 2012. Using the latest available figures, the result so far show a 21% reduction in diesel pollution from 2005 to 2008.
Other environmental initiatives at the port include terminal operators signing 'Green Leases' and the use of shorepower, which allows ships to shut down diesel engines and plug into clean electricity while at berth.
The Port’s first container berth with shorepower opened in 2008, and the world’s first oil tanker berth with shore power was opened in 2009. By 2014, 50% of container ships will be required to plug in.
"We embarked upon an ambitious journey five years ago, and we’ve made a great deal of progress along the way thanks to the support of our many stakeholders," said Port Executive Director Richard D. Steinke.
"We’re embedding a culture of sustainability at the Port, developing cost-saving practices and conserving resources so this can be a more prosperous, greener port now and in the future," Steinke concluded.

Source: Portworld