LOS ANGELES, LONG BEACH IMPLEMENT SHIP AIR POLLUTION REDUCTION PLAN

LOS ANGELES, LONG BEACH IMPLEMENT SHIP AIR POLLUTION REDUCTION PLAN    The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have joined industry groups and state and federal environmental agencies in an effort to reduce air pollution from cargo ships.
   The Voluntary Commercial Cargo Ship Speed Reduction Program requests that vessel operators entering or leaving the Southern California ports maintain a 12-knot speed beginning 20 nautical miles from Point Fermia to the boundaries of the existing “precautionary area” in the ports. The program becomes effective May 1.
   “The purpose of the speed reduction measure is to reduce air pollution from ships in the South Coast Air Basin,” the port authorities said in a joint statement. “It is expected that full implementation of this measure will result in the reduction of over three tons of smog pollutants from ships per day.”
   In addition to the ports, the program sponsors include the Steamship Association of Southern California, the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, the Marine Exchange of Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbor Inc., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.