The Port of Long Beach, the USA’s second-busiest container port, has joined the SEA-LNG industry coalition.
The Californian port is the third North American port to join the coalition. It brings SEA-LNG’s count of port members to a total of seven, the coalition said in a statement on Tuesday.
These ports are among the world’s top 20 placed along major trade lanes in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
The Port of Long Beach is the second-busiest seaport for container traffic in the United States. It handles trade valued at more than $200 billion annually.
The port has made “dramatic reductions” to its local emissions since 2005, according to the statement.
It has established a programme in collaboration with the Port of Los Angeles. Under the programme, it is offering financial incentives for ships with the newest engines or an equivalent NOx-reducing technology.
SEA-LNG chairman Peter Keller said “ports are critical links in the bunker supply chain” adding that the coalition was “excited” to welcome the new member.
The US port will help the coalition drive forward its vision of a “competitive global LNG value chain for a cleaner maritime shipping towards 2050,” he said.
“Allying with groups like SEA-LNG is part of being ready for the market’s growing demand for LNG fuel,” Port of Long Beach executive director Mario Cordero, said.
Cordero added that it also meshes with the port’s strategic goals to strengthen competitiveness while improving environmental sustainability.