Port of L.A. teams up with IAPH on global environmental index; commemorates 5 years of clean air plan
The Port of Los Angeles announced it is working with the International Association of Ports and Harbors to develop incentive program strategies for the Environmental Ship Index that is set to launch in 2012.
The EIS program is proclaimed to be an international web-based ship-rating system that ports can use to promote the use of clean ships in their harbors by rewarding operators whose vessels exceed current environmental performance standards and regulations.
Port of L.A. said in a statement that its staff presented an outline of the program to its board of harbor commissioners last week and expects to submit recommendations for participation in the program to the board by early 2012.
The port also announced it is the fifth anniversary of its adoption of the Clean Air Action Plan, the pollution reduction initiative that it says has cut harmful port-related emissions in San Pedro Harbor by as much as 76 percent.
"We've had five years of extraordinary success with the Clean Air Action Plan and now we're looking at the next generation of strategies for running the cleanest possible port and improving air quality in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
"The Port of Los Angeles is looking forward to being part of these international standards and setting the stage for North American ports to follow suit and reward operators for greening their fleets," said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D. and IAPH president.
The ESI program claims to reward voluntary, environmentally friendly engine, fuel and technology enhancements by shipowners.
The index was developed under the aegis of the IAPH’s World Ports Climate Initiative.
Nine European ports in the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Belgium and Italy have signed on to participate in the ESI.
The ESI targets primary pollutants that include nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and diesel particulate.
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