Long Beach honors lines that slow down

Long Beach honors lines that slow down    The Port of Long Beach said this week it expects to award $2.5 million in dockage fee discounts to carriers who participate in the port's voluntary speed reduction program, aimed at curbing emissions from oceangoing vessels.
   The amount saved in fees is projected to be slightly higher than the $2.4 million awarded a year ago as part of Long Beach's 'green flag' program.
   'More than 200 ocean carriers participated in the program last year,' the port said. 'Overall, close to 96 percent of all ships docking at the port slowed down to the speed limit of 12 knots within the 20 nautical mile radius, and 74 percent within the 40 nautical miles radius.'
   Long Beach honored 13 shipping lines that achieved at least 90 percent, and in some cases 100 percent, participation by their fleets. The lines, which accounted for about half of all calls at Long Beach, were: Hamburg S'd, Mediterranean Shipping Co., Zim Integrated Shipping, NYK Line, 'K' Line, Alaska Tanker, Maersk Line, OOCL, Hanjin Shipping, Matson Navigation Co., COSCO Container Lines, Wan Hai and Toyofuji Shipping Co.