JAPAN's "K" Line has received the prestigious Green Flag award from the Long Beach Board Port Authority for complying with the port's voluntary ship speed reduction programme aimed at reducing exhaust gases from their vessels within designated offshore waters.

"K" Line received the accolade from the port based on its total of 95 ships, representing 177 qualifying legs in and out of the port, meeting 100 per cent compliance rate within 40 nautical miles from the port during 2011.

The slowdown in navigation helps to reduce emissions of diesel particulate matter, sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide by decreasing fuel consumption.

This programme calls on ships to comply limit speed to 12-knots within 40 miles from the port.

The Japanese shipping line said it has been aggressively participating in this programme since 2005 and achieved high compliance record every year with this being its seventh consecutive award. It has achieved the status as the number one company having 100 per cent compliance at the 40-mile limit with the greatest number of ships.