A slow approach to Long Beach leads to reduced dockage fees and reduced air emissions.
The Green Flag vessel speed reduction program gives financial incentives to ship operators to slow down near the harbor, thus reducing air pollution. The program has helped reduce pollution levels from ships by nearly 50 percent since it began six years ago, according to information provided by port spokesman Art Wong. Vessels that slow down within a 20-nautical-mile zone around the port are rewarded with discounts on dockage fees. Extra incentives are given to ships that slow down within 40 nautical miles.
Last year, the port awarded $2.4 million in dockage fee discounts to carriers participating in the Green Flag program. This year, the port is on track to award about $2.5 million, Wong said.