The Port of Long Beach said it supports global standards for ship fuel during a recent meeting with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which is expected to amend MARPOL Annex VI this year.

"With these major decisions coming in a matter of months, we felt it was crucial that we urge the IMO to adopt tougher environmental standards that will benefit Long Beach and other port communities throughout the world," said Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster.

Port delegates met this week with the IMO's environmental head as part of a trade delegation to promote the port's green initiatives, including its new low-sulphur distillate scheme.

"While the port's low-sulphur fuel program and other initiatives are more aggressive than the IMO's plan, the Annex VI agreement would represent a major step forward in 'greening' the maritime industry on a global level," said Harbor Commission President Mario Cordero.

In the first week of April, the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) released its recommendations for a new Annex VI, 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.

Under Long Beach's distillate fuel scheme, shipowners will be compensated for the cost difference if they use 0.2% sulphur distillate fuel in their main ship engines - ahead of regulations to achieve similar sulphur targets likely to be introduced in California next year.

The trip also included a meeting with officials from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Geneva where the port showcased its Clean Air Action Plan, in cooperation with the Port of Los Angeles, and the Green Flag incentive scheme for lower vessel speeds.

"Their sincere interest in our 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.

Port visits included Hamburg and Rotterdam. At the latter, 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.

Other meetings included European shipping companies that call at the Long Beach port.