Port of Los Angeles Falls Short on Pollution Cutting Test
The TraPac terminal at the Port of Los Angeles has failed to meet pollution-reduction targets introduced by the city authorities several years ago, the Los Angeles Times reports citing unnamed city officials.
The air improvement measures included shutting down of ship engines while entering port and plugging into shore-power while docked at the terminal.
This is the second time in less than a year that this topic emerges with port officials admitting the failure to enforce similar mandates at the China Shipping North America terminal near San Pedro.
Southern California has the worst air quality in the country, according to Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC). The port of Los Angeles and its twin port of Long Beach are the biggest air polluters in Southern California.
The pollution is caused by high emission of diesel exhaust particles from diesel-powered ships, trains, and trucks calling at the port.
Between 2005 and 2008, NRDC helped the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach develop their landmark Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) and Clean Truck Programs (CTP). The CAAP includes a compendium of air pollution control measures aimed at drastically cutting port-generated air pollution while enabling the ports to grow.
This is particularly important seeing that the volume of freight moved by the U.S. transportation system is expected to increase by 70 percent by 2020.
World Maritime News Staff
