Long Beach showcases policies at UN
Representatives from the Port of Long Beach met with officials from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Geneva this week to showcase their environmental initiatives.
"It is rewarding to share the success of our various environmental programs with a global organisation such as UNEP," said Harbor Commission President Mario Cordero. "Clearly the port is viewed as a global leader in the international maritime industry."
The UNEP was briefed on the port's Clean Air Action Plan, which is in cooperation with the Port of Los Angeles, as well as the 'Green Flag' scheme that rewards shipowners for slower vessel speeds in the port area.
"Their sincere interest in our Clean Air Action Plan and Green Flag program is a testament to the hard work we have done at the Port," said port Executive Director Richard D. Steinke.
On April 1, Long Beach signed a cooperation agreement with the Port of Rotterdam Authority to exchange technical information on environmental practices.
"Through this agreement the ports of Long Beach and Rotterdam will work together to advance the best environmental seaport practices and technologies on both continents," Cordero said.
The delegation is also meeting with executives of European shipping companies that use the port to discuss its latest environmental initiatives.
Last month, Long Beach and Los Angeles approved a fuel incentive scheme where ships that switched from fuel oil bunkers to low-sulphur distillate fuels in their main engines would be paid the difference in fuel costs.
The two-week trip will also include a meeting with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) where the port delegation will "push for higher global standards for clean ship fuels", it said.
Just last week, in its review of MARPOL Annex VI, the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) released its recommendations, which include lowering the global sulphur cap for marine fuels to 3.50% in January 2012, with a long-term global target of just 0.50% in 2020, subject to a review in 2018.
There have already been warnings from the bunker industry, however, that there would be insufficient low-sulphur fuel available to meet such a target in 2020.
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| Mario Cordero touting green policies in Geneva this week. |
The UNEP was briefed on the port's Clean Air Action Plan, which is in cooperation with the Port of Los Angeles, as well as the 'Green Flag' scheme that rewards shipowners for slower vessel speeds in the port area.
"Their sincere interest in our Clean Air Action Plan and Green Flag program is a testament to the hard work we have done at the Port," said port Executive Director Richard D. Steinke.
On April 1, Long Beach signed a cooperation agreement with the Port of Rotterdam Authority to exchange technical information on environmental practices.
"Through this agreement the ports of Long Beach and Rotterdam will work together to advance the best environmental seaport practices and technologies on both continents," Cordero said.
The delegation is also meeting with executives of European shipping companies that use the port to discuss its latest environmental initiatives.
Last month, Long Beach and Los Angeles approved a fuel incentive scheme where ships that switched from fuel oil bunkers to low-sulphur distillate fuels in their main engines would be paid the difference in fuel costs.
The two-week trip will also include a meeting with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) where the port delegation will "push for higher global standards for clean ship fuels", it said.
Just last week, in its review of MARPOL Annex VI, the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) released its recommendations, which include lowering the global sulphur cap for marine fuels to 3.50% in January 2012, with a long-term global target of just 0.50% in 2020, subject to a review in 2018.
There have already been warnings from the bunker industry, however, that there would be insufficient low-sulphur fuel available to meet such a target in 2020.
Guy Wilson-Roberts | Tue Apr 8 20:54 GMT 2008