Slow and steady wins applause

摘要

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has received recognition from the Californian ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles for its efforts to ensure compliance with standards that call for vessels to slow down when approaching land. The ports both urged vessel operators to slow down to 12kts or less within 40nm of the shore. The slow-down is expected to reduce emissions of CO_2, NOx and SOx in coastal areas. Long Beach introduced its Green Flag Program back in 2005 while Port of Los Angeles implemented its Vessel Speed Reduction Program in 2001. Both programmes offer annual rewards including dockage rate reductions to vessel operators that achieve 'extraordinary compliance percentages'.