Environment: Hueneme, Los Angeles

Hueneme Becomes First California Port to Earn Green Marine Certification

Port of Hueneme earned its Green Marine certification in June.  

Green Marine’s voluntary environmental program assists ports, terminal operators and shipping lines in reducing their environmental footprint through a comprehensive program that addresses key environmental issues and criteria using 11 performance indicators including air emissions, prevention of spills and leakages, community impacts, and environmental leadership.

The port received the highest possible scores in the spill prevention, environmental leadership, and community impact categories.

Membership in Green Marine requires members to demonstrate year-over-year meaningful improvements in measurable ways to maintain their Green Marine certification. Green Marine’s metrics and their results are independently verified and released to the public.

In 2015, the port unveiled a shore side power program that it says will reduce PM by 92 percent, NOx by 98 percent and CO2 by 55 percent over the next 30 years through the electrification of its wharves. The port's environmental framework establishes strategic action plans in the areas of air, climate change, energy, marine resources, soils and sediments, sustainability and community.

"We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Hueneme as the first port from California to join the Green Marine program," said David Bolduc, Green Marine’s executive director. "We have no doubt that the administration of this deepwater port will enhance our membership by sharing its environmental initiatives and best practices."

Click to view Green Marine Performance Report.

Sustainability Committee Accelerates Clean Air Progress at the Port of Los Angeles

The Port of Los Angeles is expanding demonstration projects to test zero and near-zero emission trucks and cargo handling equipment in response to a series of recommendations developed over the past year by the Sustainability Freight Advisory Committee. The port is also collaborating more closely with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to expedite clean tech infrastructure.

Established by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, the 10-member board of industry labor, environmental, government and community leaders recently completed its one-year assignment to recommend specific strategies for speeding up clean air progress at the nation’s busiest container port while balancing its commercial and economic viability. Committee members met June 28 to deliver the final report to Mayor Garcetti and Port Executive Director Gene Seroka.

"The committee’s work is already shaping policy and strengthening current zero emission demonstration projects at our terminals," said Mr. Gene Seroka. "The recommendations are also a timely contribution to our update of the Clean Air Action Plan."

 Accordingly, the port is moving forward with the following initiatives:

• Testing zero emission top handlers: Acting on the committee’s first recommendation last fall, the port secured state funding to test two battery-electric top handlers, the off-road heavy-duty equipment used to load and unload trucks hauling containers in and out of marine terminals. The $4.5 million grant from the California Energy Commission also will fund testing of three next-generation yard tractors.
  

• Expanding zero emission drayage truck testing: Acting on another committee recommendation, the port is developing a pilot program to test 50-100 zero emission drayage trucks to better assess the requirements needed to transition to a 100 percent zero emission drayage truck fleet by 2035. The pending San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) update, which is due to be released July 19 for public review and comment, is expected to include the program.  

• Coordinating the port industry to work with equipment manufacturers: The committee recommended the mayor and port take the lead in coordinating with multiple ports to study the current and future availability of zero and near-zero emission vehicles and equipment.

Other strategies the port is advancing based on the committee’s recommendations include opening a large near-dock peel-off yard, accelerating use of LED lights port-wide, and assessing opportunities to deploy zero and near-zero cargo handling equipment at all terminals. All recommendations are detailed in the final report.

The Sustainable Freight Advisory Committee has volunteered to continue working collaboratively to monitor the progress of its recommendations and identify additional emission reduction strategies.