Maersk Line, the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles have entered a partnership to measure air pollution emitted by 12 Maersk container vessels.

According to the two ports, a combined US$1 million will be invested in high-tech real-time tracking systems that will measure the vessels’ emissions and energy efficiency while at sea and at berth over the next three years. This will improve transparency and ultimately reduce the environmental impact of vessels calling at the San Pedro Bay Port complex.

“This project is a vivid example of the deep commitment to environmental sustainability that we have grown to expect from our goods movement partners, as we all work together to create a healthier planet,” said Duane Kenagy, interim CEO of the Port of Long Beach. “We’re pleased to be a part of this project, and we hope it will serve as a model to encourage even more progress and creativity in emissions reductions from ocean-going vessels.”

The cost will be split under the two ports’ joint Technology Advancement Program.

“Maersk Line’s extraordinary commitment to cleaner, more efficient vessel operations represents a quantum leap in the environmental progress of our entire industry,” said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. “We applaud Maersk Line for its leadership and innovation, and we are eager to do our part to advance fundamental change that will result in cleaner air for our surrounding communities and around the world.”

Each vessel’s fuel consumption, speed and engine power will be continuously monitored, as well as weather and other operational variables. This information will be uploaded to Maersk’s servers by satellite. Each ship will also be able to communicate in real time with Maersk’s Global Vessel Performance Centre.

“This is the equivalent of strapping a Fitbit onto a large container ship,” said Lee Kindberg, director of environment and sustainability at Maersk Line. “We’ll be tracking vessel performance and emissions 24/7. This advances our ability to reduce greenhouse gases and other pollutants on a global scale.”

The 12 ships that are involved in the project are part of Maersk Line’s US$125 million radical retrofit programme, under which the company redesigned their bulbous bow, equipped them with more efficient propellers and derated their main engines to make them more efficient at lower speeds.