Five local maritime and cargo companies have gained recognition from the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan Air Quality Awards for "voluntarily going above and beyond required air quality measures."

Tugboat company Crowley Marine Services won an award under the category of Significant Early Action to Reduce Emissions.

"In advance of regulatory requirements, Crowley has replaced four main diesel engines and eight diesel auxiliary engines on four of its vessels at a cost of roughly $1 million per tug.," the port said.

"Through this early action, the repowered tugs are expected to reduce particulate matter emissions by more than 3 tonnes per year and nitrogen oxides by more than 100 tonnes per year," it added.

Marine terminal operator Matson Navigation Company gained recognition under the Air Quality Leadership at the Corporate Level category for voluntarily retrofitting one of its ships so that it can plug into shore power once the electrical berth infrastructure is in place later this year, well in advance of state law.

Matson has also adopted green goals to reduce the impact of company operations on the environment. Matson vessels switched to low-sulphur fuels within 24 nautical miles of the California coast before the regulatory requirement, and Matson achieves at least 90 percent compliance with the Port of Long Beach’s Green Flag vessel speed reduction programme.

Other winners of the Awards were California Cartage Company, SA Recycling, LLC and Jacobsen Pilot Services Inc.

"The companies we’re honouring today have shown an extraordinary commitment to growing green in the San Pedro Bay port complex," said Port of Los Angeles executive director Geraldine Knatz.

"It’s this kind of forward thinking that has helped our ports significantly reduce air emissions, modernise facilities and cultivate new technologies that help ensure good jobs and a brighter future for millions of people," Knatz added.

The port of Los Angeles and Long Beach adopted the Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) in 2006 which embraced the idea of collaboration among the goods movement industry to voluntarily commit to reducing their environmental impact.

"These companies are joining in the ports' vision of a modern, green seaport complex that reduces its environmental impact while improving its services," said Port of Long Beach executive director Richard D. Steinke.

"Together, we are accomplishing the goals of achieving dramatically cleaner, healthier air while continuing to provide jobs to the region," Steinke concluded.