Environment: Coos Bay, Los Angeles/Long Beach
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Coos Bay Partners to Address Derelict Vessels
Oregon International Port of Coos Bay works in concert with the Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) and other stakeholders throughout the state in an effort to develop preventative strategies to address derelict vessels.
Removing derelict vessels from the water is extremely important in order to prevent them from sinking. "If a vessel sinks, the cost to remove it from the water goes up tremendously," states John Buckley, Charleston Harbormaster, "additionally, the risk of either pollution or navigational hazards in our waterways is significantly increased."
This year, the port sets aside $25,000 to dispose of derelict vessels. Oregon Ports also receive some support for these efforts from the Department of Environmental Quality and the Oregon State Marine Board, which can provide assistance in funding a large percentage of the costs to dispose of hazardous waste like oil, fuel or batteries. In 2015 and 2016, the port was able to remove and dispose of three vessels each year. This year, the port anticipates that five derelict vessels will be destroyed and disposed of with the help of OSMB and DEQ.
The safe and effective removal and disposal of derelict vessels is essential in maintaining the quality of waterways, and furthers OIPCB’s environmental goal to continue to operate port facilities consistent with established best management practices.
Los Angeles, Long Beach Update Clean Air Action Plan
The governing boards of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach unanimously approved the 2017 Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) Update, ushering in a new era of aggressive clean air strategies for moving cargo through the nation’s busiest container port complex
the 2017 CAAP is a comprehensive plan for pursuing the ultimate goal of eliminating all harmful air emissions from port-related sources: ships, trucks, cargo handling equipment, locomotives and harbor craft. The document identifies four categories of coordinated strategies: 1) clean vehicles, equipment technology and fuels; 2) infrastructure investment and planning; 3) operational efficiency throughout the supply chain; and 4) energy resource planning.
The new strategies were developed with more than two years of dialogue with industry, environmental groups, regulatory agencies, residents, equipment and fuel vendors, technology developers and others. Because stakeholder input will be crucial going forward, the document creates a CAAP Implementation Stakeholder Advisory Group of public and private experts to provide input on implementing new strategies. The group’s meetings will be open to all who wish to attend.
"Collaboration will be critical to our success," said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Lou Anne Bynum. "Moving the needle to zero requires all of us - the ports, industry, regulatory agencies, environmental groups and our communities - to pool our energy, expertise and resources."
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