Maersk's 1,000th ship call on west coast eco-fuel switch

MAERSK Line's environmental initiative to switch to cleaner fuel at North American West Coast ports begun in 2006 reached a milestone in its 1,000th vessel making a total reduction of vessel-related air emissions by over 2,400 tons.

The vessels have called at the ports of Los Angeles and Oakland in California (US), Tacoma in Washington (US) and Vancouver in Canada in the company's pilot program to improve port air quality.

In 2006, Maersk Line took an unprecedented step to reduce vessel air emissions by voluntarily converting to a lower polluting diesel fuel in our main and auxiliary engines in these ports, said Maersk North America eco chief Lee Kindberg.

Said State Senator Alan Lowenthal: Congratulations to Maersk Line for completing the 1,000th vessel call to west coast ports using cleaner fuels. By voluntarily switching to low-sulphur distillate fuel, you have become the environmental leader in the shipping industry. California is a healthier state due to your commitment to cleaner air quality.

Maersk has achieved an 86 per cent annual reduction in particulate matter, a 95 per cent reduction in sulphur oxides (SOx), and a 12 per cent reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx). The first vessel that performed the fuel switch was SINE MAERSK in Los Angeles on March 31, 2006. There were 212 switches in 2006, 351 in 2007, 425 in 2008 and 12 through January 20, 2009.

The environmental program has been aligned with and supports the significant air quality improvement efforts by the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California's Goods Movement Action Plan, the California Air Resources Board initiatives and the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy to improve air quality in these ports.

Maersk Line voluntarily switches from bunker fuel with relatively high sulphur content to low-sulphur distillate fuel on the main and auxiliary engines of its vessels while underway in port areas and in the auxiliaries while in California ports, and in the auxiliary engines while at dock in Tacoma and Vancouver.

The details of the programme vary depending on geography and the specific port. The fuel switch enables ports to achieve immediate emissions reduction, unlike shore-side power programmes such as cold ironing that take years to implement on this scale.

Maersk Line is also participating in the Ports of Long Angeles/Long Beach Vessel Speed Reduction Programme and the Main Engine Fuel Switch Incentive Programme. The cost of the programme to Maersk Line has been over US$18 million to date.

Additionally Maersk Line has received numerous awards for these efforts including the Excellence Award from the San Pedro Bay Ports; the Clean Air Award for the Advancement of Air Pollution Technology from the South Coast Air Quality Management District; the Clean Air Leadership Award from the Coalition of Clean Air; and the Carrie Chapman Catt Leadership Award from the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles.

Maersk Line has attained a Gold designation in the Port Metro Vancouver emission reduction programme, Differentiated Harbour Dues Programme.

Source: Schednet