The Port of Long Beach has welcomed Pasha Hawaii's MV George III, the first container ship powered by liquefied natural gas to refuel on the West Coast.

The ship's LNG-powered engines are dramatically cleaner than those of a traditional cargo ship.

Photo: Port of Long Beach

Following George III’s inaugural visit to Long Beach, the newly built 774-foot-long ship will begin its maiden voyage to its home port in Honolulu.

Port of Long Beach noted that after the George III, there's another LNG Pasha ship on the way – the Janet Marie – which will be the second of two "Ohana Class" container ships to join Pasha Hawaii's fleet, in the fourth quarter of 2022, in service between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland.

"Reducing ship emissions will have a significant and positive impact on the region's air quality," said Mario Cordero,  executive director, of Port of Long Beach. "We thank Pasha Hawaii for leading the way in green shipping at the Green Port."

George Pasha IV, president and CEO, of Pasha Hawaii said: "We are also grateful for our partnership with the Port of Long Beach. Being able to fuel MV George III with natural gas at the Port reflects our shared vision of minimizing our environmental impact while setting a new standard for shipbuilding in the U.S."

Pasha LNG vessels

The Pasha LNG vessels, which operate fully on natural gas, surpass the International Maritime Organization's 2030 emission standards for ocean vessels, Port of Long Beach said in a statement.

It added that energy efficiencies are also achieved with the engine, an optimized hull form, and an underwater propulsion system with a high-efficiency rudder and propeller.

LNG-powered ships achieve a 99.9% reduction in diesel particulate matter and sulfur oxide emissions, 90% fewer nitrogen oxides and a 25% reduction in carbon dioxide compared to ships running on traditional fuels.