“These partners have shown a real commitment to cleaner and greener port operations, going above and beyond what is required,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D. “These awards highlight what can be achieved when entities join forces and embrace innovation to better the environment.”
“The Clean Air Action Plan awards are a fantastic way to put a spotlight on the oftentimes unheralded efforts of the goods movement industry to meet and exceed air quality goals, and to invent a better way to cleaner air for everyone,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Richard D. Steinke. “We congratulate all of the winners.”
Now in their fourth year, the annual Air Quality Awards were initiated shortly after the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach approved the landmark San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan in 2006.
Port tenants and other organizations that serve the ports are eligible to be nominated. The judging panel includes port staff, as well as representatives from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, California Air Resources Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
This year’s awardees fall into three categories:
Air Quality Improvement Leadership at the Corporate Level
- Clean Truck Coalition, LLC: This group of 10 family-owned licensed motor carriers was formed in 2008 as a direct result of the ports’ Clean Air Action Plan and Clean Truck Programs. Taking the lead in improving air quality at the San Pedro Bay Ports and beyond, the Clean Truck Coalition created a partnership and “pooling agreement” that required its members to share information to better utilize their collective truck fleets. Such measures included operating more vehicles at night to reduce traffic congestion and sharing equipment to reduce container-less truck trips back to the ports. The CTC also invested $109 million in new equipment, including nearly 1,000 new diesel and liquefied natural gas trucks, which represent about 11 percent of all new trucks at the San Pedro Bay Port complex.
- Ability/Tri-Modal Transportation Services Inc.: Ability/Tri-Modal is a third generation privately held trucking, warehousing and distribution company that serves both ports. Over the last two years, the company has replaced its entire fleet of 51 drayage trucks with port-certified clean trucks, resulting in significant emission reductions. Active in various environmentally-focused initiatives, including the EPA SmartWay program – a voluntary federal initiative that encourages environmentally cleaner, more fuel-efficient transportation options – Ability/Tri-Modal has also been a key participant in port efforts to reduce gate congestion, terminal queue times and truck idling, all important emission reduction measures.
- Evergreen Line: Evergreen Line, the ocean containership division of Taiwan's Evergreen Group, has an established reputation for global environmental stewardship. In 2003, the company incorporated new S-type “Greenships” into its fleet, vessels that include low-sulfur fuel systems that reduce SOx emissions and efficient hull designs that help lower fuel consumption. These ships are also equipped to participate in the Port of Los Angeles' Alternative Maritime Power (AMP) program, which allows ships to plug into shore-side electric power while at berth, rather than running diesel engines while docked. Since 2001, Evergreen Line has also participated in the Port of Los Angeles' Vessel Speed Reduction program, in which vessels voluntarily reduce speeds to lower emission output. Environmental leadership has been a company policy since its founding in 1968.
Innovative Operations that I
