advertisement

---

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., recently recognized six companies with Clean Air Action Plan Air Quality Awards for their efforts to reduce air pollution during local maritime and goods-movement operations.

Now in their fifth year, the annual awards began shortly after the ports approved the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan in 2006. Tenants and other organizations that serve the ports are eligible to be nominated. The judging panel includes port staff and representatives from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, California Air Resources Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Honored in two categories — “Air Quality Leadership at the Corporate Level” and “Significant Early Action to Reduce Emissions” — the winners are Pacific Harbor Line Inc. (PHL), SA Recycling L.L.C., APL, Harley Marine Services, BP and Matson Navigation Co.

PHL, which provides rail-car switching services at the ports, operates “the most environmentally friendly fleet of locomotives in the country,” port officials said in a prepared statement. Over the past year, the short line has completed a $12 million program aimed at reducing emissions by replacing engines on 16 of its locomotives. Each engine is equipped with state-of-the-art exhaust after-treatment systems. The upgraded engines have cut particulate matter emissions by 85 percent and nitrogen oxides emissions by 38 percent versus the previous engines, port officials said.

International shipping line APL was recognized for a companywide environmental policy that sets objectives and targets for reducing the company’s environmental impact, and shipping line Matson Navigation was honored for using shore power two years before state regulations will require it.