Port of Long Beach approves green flag program for ships that slow down

Port of Long Beach approves green flag program for ships that slow down    The Long Beach Harbor Commission voted Monday to award green flag designations to vessels that comply with a program asking cargo vessels to slow their speeds as they approach the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, a move that could save ocean carriers money on dockage rates.
   The so-called vessel speed reduction program helps the ports eliminate tons of air pollutants annually from bunker-burning ships because emissions increase non-linearly with speed.
   Beginning next year, vessels that observe a 12-knot speed limit within 20 miles of the port during an entire year of voyages to and from Long Beach will be awarded a green flag to recognize their contributions to improved air quality, the port said in a press release.
   The ocean carriers, who operate the individual ships, will qualify for a 15 percent discounted 'green flag' dockage rate during the following 12 months if 90 percent of their vessels comply with the 12-knot speed limit for a year.
   If all of the carriers qualify for green flag rates, the port would make an estimated $2.2 million investment through reduced dockage collections to significantly cut emissions of nitrogen oxide, a component of smog.