The Port of Los Angeles has honored 26 shipping and cruise lines for their participation in its Vessel Speed Reduction Program (VSRP), an initiative that encourages the lowering of vessel speeds when ships approaching the port. Doing so decreases diesel particulate matter, sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions into the environment.
Cruise lines honored include?Crystal Cruises,?Norwegian Cruise Line?and?Princess Cruises.
In 2012, the port achieved 100 percent compliance for 543 vessels at 20 nautical miles and 386 vessels at 40 nautical miles. These voluntary actions helped reduce 73 tons of diesel particulate matter, 740 tons of sulfur oxide and 981 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions. The port pays incentives to shipping lines that achieve a 90 percent or higher participation rate in VSRP in a calendar year.