Sustainable Ports
and Carriers
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of International Affairs
Overview: Sustainable Ports
and Carriers

Environmental Challenge:
Effects of Air Pollution from
Ports and Carriers

Drivers:
Economic Growth and Trade
Lead to Increased Maritime
Traffic

Actions:
Cooperation & Collaboration:
Assist Partners and
Implement Solutions
Environmental Challenge:
Human Health and Air Pollution


Reducing sulfur in fuel directly reduces PM
in air emissions.
Benefits of ultra-low sulfur diesel (>
15ppm) combined with advanced emission
control technology:
• In heavy-duty highway diesel vehicles,
benefits are 16 times the costs, and prevents
an estimated 8,300 premature deaths
annually.
• In non-road diesel vehicles, benefits are 40
times the cost.
• Annual benefits expected to exceed $150
billion versus costs of approximately $7
billion.
Environmental Challenge:
Concerns about Air Pollution
Percentage of Total Emissions
U.S. Mobile Source Emissions Projected for 2030
100%
90%
6
12
32
18
80%
Ocean Going
Vessels
70%
60%
21
35
83
50%
40%
20
30%
20%
Other OffHighway,
Nonroad
Locomotive
& Diesel
Marine
Highway
35
27
1
10%
10
0%
PM-2.5
NOx
Air Pollutants
SOx
Source: EPA OTAQ
Driver: Exponential Increase in
Global Trade Since 1948
Billions U.S. Dollarss
$25,000
World Trade Merchandise
Total Global Imports + Exports
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$1948
1956
1964
1972
1980
Years
1988
1996
2004
Source: WT0, 2006
Example of a Driver: Economic Growth
Leads to Increases in Container Traffic
TOP CONTAINER PORTS IN THE WORLD, 2005
GLOBAL
RANK
PACIFIC RIM
PORT
COUNTRY
Thousands
of TEUs
1
Hong Kong
China
45,166
2
Singapore
Singapore
33,637
3
Busan
Korea
20,208
4
Kaohsiung
Taiwan
16,414
6
LA/Long Beach
USA
11,538
7
Shanghai
China
10,602
8
Port Klang
Malaysia
10,589
10
Yantian
China
10,284
Source: U.S. DOT MARAD, April 2006
Actions to Address the Challenges

Support International
Treaty Negotiations

Implement EPA’s National
Clean Diesel Campaign
•
•
•

Clean Air Act Requirements
Clean Ports USA
SmartWay Transport Partners
Develop and Promote
Sustainable Ports and
Carriers Partnership
Action #1: MARPOL Annex VI

MARPOL Annex VI
establishes global
standards applicable to air
emissions from ships entered into force in May
2005.

Negotiations are underway
at the IMO to develop more
stringent NOx and SOx
standards and to expand
coverage to PM and
existing engines.

Expected completion date
in 2008.
Action #1: Review of MARPOL Annex VI

IMO's Working Group will meet in
London in April 2007
• Proposals will be introduced that may require
the use of significantly cleaner fuels in the
marine market.
• IMO Member States need to take a dramatic
step forward in addressing PM, NOx, and sulfur
if the maritime industry is to see uniform
standards.
• Uniform standards will provide a stable and
predictable regulatory landscape.

The U.S. is very active in these
international negotiations.
Action #1: SOx Emission Control Areas

MARPOL Annex VI provides a mechanism
for the creation of SOx Emission Control
Areas (SECAs) where ships must use lowsulfur fuel (15,000 ppm) or alternative
mechanisms such as scrubbers.

The U.S., Canada, and Mexico are
collaborating to address ship source air
pollution in North America.

To inform the process, EPA is conducting
several key evaluations:
• Emissions inventory updates
• Air quality analysis
• Global fuel analysis
Action #2: EPA’s Clean Ports USA:
Learn from Port Successes
 Leadership: Port of Long Beach and
Port of Los Angeles
•
•
•
•
•
•
San Pedro Bay Clean Air Action Plan
Installed diesel oxidation catalysts
Piloting hydraulic hybrid yard hostlers
Using cleaner fuels
Replacing trucks
Cold-ironing vessels
 Benefits:
• Reduce PM emissions by 50%
• Reduce NOx emissions by 12,000 tons/yr
• Extend engine life and reduced
maintenance costs
• Reduce risks and improve community
health
www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/ports
Action #2: EPA’s SmartWay Transport
Intermodal Carrier Savings
Projected SmartWay Benefits
Technology
Idling-control
technologies
6 – 10% fuel
savings
Wide-based tires
with aluminum
wheels
4 – 10% fuel
savings
Improved
aerodynamics
5 – 7% fuel
savings
Emission
reduction device
www.epa.gov/smartway
Savings
10 – 50% PM
savings
Action #3: Sustainable Ports and
Carriers Partnership

Intended to be an international collaboration to
improve environmental performance of ports
and carriers.

Build upon the Pacific Ports Air Quality
Collaborative experience.

Longer-term goals might include:
• Develop sound Environmental Management Systems for
port/harbor projects
• Develop common port safeguards to improve port development
activities
• Provide investment opportunities for the private sector
• Look beyond the Pacific Rim
Panama Air Quality Monitoring
• USEPA and USAID worked with
Panama institutions to establish an air
monitoring station at Canales in 2006.
• The California Air Resources Board
trained local technicians.
• The Canal Zone Authority contracted
with the University of Panama in 2006
to establish and manage a second air
monitoring station.
• USEPA and USAID will provide
resources and technical assistance to
Panama to build and manage a third
air monitoring station in 2007.
Collaboration & Cooperation on a
Range of Environmental Issues
Initiate partnerships to address
port and maritime industry
issues:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Improve Air Quality
Improve Water Quality
Promote Healthier Communities
Protect Resources
Reduce Environmental Risks
Implement Safe, Secure & Efficient
Operations
• Promote Economic & Trade Growth
• Improve Development Planning &
Communications
Partnership to Reduce Risk
of Invasive Species

USEPA is working with the World
Conservation Union to analyze
risks associated with new
introductions of invasive species
at U.S. ports

Learning networks among port
authorities promote best
management practices for
detection and prevention of
threatening species

Learning networks improve early
response to new introductions of
harmful species
Model Program: Partnership for
Clean Fuels and Vehicles

A model for the Sustainable Ports
and Carriers Partnership

Global, voluntary partnership
launched at the World Summit for
Sustainable Development in 2002.
• To eliminate lead in gasoline and reduce sulfur
in diesel and gasoline, while introducing
cleaner vehicle standards.
• 90+ partners from government, industry,
NGOs and international organizations.

Examples of Results
• Lead phased out in Africa and Indonesia.
• Mexico regulation to reduce sulfur in diesel &
gasoline by 2011.
• Retrofit projects in China, India, Thailand,
Chile and Mexico.
• Action plans in place for other countries to
reduce sulfur in fuel.
www.unep.org/PCFV
Successful Partnerships Require
Participation and Long-Term Commitments
THANK YOU
Patrick Cotter
U.S. EPA OIA
(202) 564-6414
Cotter.Patrick@epa.gov