|
Business Editors/Environment Writers/Transportation Writers |
Port of Los Angeles Repowers Popular Catalina
Express Vessel with More Environmentally Sensitive, Cleaner-Burning Engines |
First of 18 Proposals Selected to Receive Funding from the Port's $20 million Air Quality Mitigation Program |
SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA, May. 9 -/E-Wire/Business Wire/-- As part of a five-year, $20 million Air Quality Mitigation Program to fund clean air projects at the Port of Los Angeles, one of the most visible and utilized passenger vessels at the Port of Los Angeles is getting a $1 million clean-air makeover.
|
The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners last week approved a Memorandum of Agreement with Catalina passenger ferry operator Catalina Express that will provide $1,059,200 in air quality mitigation funding for the purchase of four new, low-emission engines for one of the operator's largest, fastest vessels, the Jet Cat Express.
|
The first of 18 proposals selected to receive funding from the Port's $20 million Air Quality Mitigation Program (AQMP), the Jet Cat Express repower project calls for replacement of the passenger ferryboat's four existing engines with cleaner, low-emission engines.
|
The new engines will reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 230 tons and diesel particulate matter (PM) emissions by 33 tons over the 10-year project life while providing an even speedier service along the 22-mile trip between San Pedro and Avalon.
|
"Cleaning our air and improving the quality of life in the harbor area is of great importance to me and to our city," said Mayor Jim Hahn. "I am very pleased that the port and Catalina Express found a cleaner, more efficient solution for the tens of thousands of residents and visitors who will travel from L.A. to Catalina each year.
|
"I look forward to more and more businesses stepping forward to help achieve my goal of improving our environment," Mayor Hahn concluded.
|
"Since the Mayor committed to no net increase in emissions at the Port, we have plugged the first container ship in the world into our DWP grid to prevent burning bunker fuel while at berth; have implemented alternative fuel on-dock vehicles; and now we are making our passenger vessels cleaner and more fuel efficient," said Councilwoman Janice Hahn. "Thousands of people visit San Pedro every year to travel to Catalina and these passengers, and our residents, deserve these new cleaner burning vessels. We can have both thriving businesses and clean air at the port and this is the perfect use for the mitigation money."
|
"The Jet Cat Express is used frequently, so the air quality benefits to the L.A. Basin are clear," said Harbor Commission President Nicholas Tonsich. "There is no doubt that this funding will be put to good use."
|
"These low-emission engines are fuel efficient, quieter and better for air quality," said Catalina Express President Greg Bombard. "They will also make the trip to Catalina Island a bit smoother and quicker for our passengers."
|
Additional terms of the agreement include monthly-itemized statements, quarterly progress reports and annual activity reports from Catalina Express for the duration of the project life.
|
In 2003, as part of the China Shipping settlement, the Port created an environmental mitigation program, which earmarks more than $50 million from Port revenues to address significant impacts of Port-related operations.
|
A Technical Advisory Committee was also created to review air quality proposals and advise the Port of Los Angeles Community Advisory Committee on the best utilization of this funding. The Committee is comprised of five members from the California Air Resources Board, South Coast Air Quality Management District, Mobil Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and South Coast Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Program.
|
Last week, the Port released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the next round of air quality mitigation funding, fiscal year 2005-2006, available online at www.portoflosangeles.org.
|
Catalina Express has operated its Berth 95 terminal at the Port of Los Angeles since 1981. The Jet Cat Express can carry nearly 400 passengers and makes daily trips to Catalina Island in under an hour. For more information, call (800) 429-4601, or visit www.catalinaexpress.com.
|
The Port of Los Angeles is America's premier port. As the leading container port in the nation and a critical hub in the international supply chain, the Port generates thousands of stable jobs and billions of dollars in annual wages and tax revenues. The Port of Los Angeles also places a high priority on responsible growth initiatives combined with high security, environmental stewardship and community outreach. The Port of Los Angeles is a proprietary, self-supported department of the City of Los Angeles. The Port of Los Angeles. . . Anchoring a bright future.
|
--30--RJ/la*
|
CONTACT: Port of Los Angeles Rachel Campbell, (310) 732-3498
|
KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TRAVEL TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENT ENERGY SOURCE: Port of Los Angeles
|
ZZZZZZ #1069027
|
