Seroka: LA Port Well Ahead of Emission Targets

Despite reports on the Port of Los Angeles’ failure to meet pollution-reduction measures, the port’s Executive Director Gene Seroka claims that the port has actually met its targets nine years ahead of schedule.

Seroka announced the info while addressing the results of the TraPac container terminal environmental audit on the Feb. 4., 2016 Harbor Commission meeting.

Namely, the port’s 2014 emmissions invetory shows that DPM pollution was reduced by 85%, NOx by 52% and SOx by 97 %.

“The TraPac audit has revealed that we are substantially below the emissions inventory levels that were contemplated and promised to the community,” Seroka said commenting on the TraPac audit results.

Early last fall after Seroka disclosed the shortcomings at the China Shipping’s terminal with respect to its contract, mitigation measures and environmental strategy. Seroka also directed the harbor staff to conduct a thorough audit on the other terminal that has mitigation measures written into its contract.

The audit found that out of the total of 52 mitigation measures included in the TraPac’s contract 49 measures were completed or 94% completion has been achieved.

The remaining measures to be tackled relate to air pollution minimization, namely utilization of alternative marine power, which has not reached the required level, due to terminal modernization activities, among other things.

In particular, only 53 % of the vessels plugged into shoreside electrical power at the terminal last year, whereas the target was set at 80 %.

The other measure studied at the terminal was cargo handling equipment transition which saw the terminal authorities order Tier 4 or Electric CHE. The full compliance on this measure is expected to be achieved in 2016.

Mr. Seroka’s speech is available in the video below.

World Maritime News Staff