The initiative was aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions of vessels and avoiding whale collisions by encouraging slow sailing speeds in California's Santa Barbara Channel region.
Vessels enrolled in the programme were required to reduce speeds to 12 knots or less within 95 nautical miles of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The programme resulted in the reduction of 1,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gases and 27 tonnes of the smog-forming air pollutant, nitrogen oxides (NOx) within the port area.
The July to November period sees an increase in whale population in the Santa Barbara Channel region, including blue, humpback and fin whales. With thousands of vessels sailing through the Channel each year, ship strikes are unfortunately a major threat to the endangered whale population. Slowing ship speeds have proved to reduce the risk of such fatal strikes.
"When you slow ships down you provide whale conservation and cleaner air for us to breathe here on shore," said Kristi Birney, marine conservation analyst for the Santa Barbara-based Environmental Defense Center, one of the backers of the initiative.
The institutions that supported this programme also include the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, NOAA's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and the Volgenau Foundation.
Vessels enrolled in the programme were required to reduce speeds to 12 knots or less within 95 nautical miles of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The programme resulted in the reduction of 1,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gases and 27 tonnes of the smog-forming air pollutant, nitrogen oxides (NOx) within the port area.
The July to November period sees an increase in whale population in the Santa Barbara Channel region, including blue, humpback and fin whales. With thousands of vessels sailing through the Channel each year, ship strikes are unfortunately a major threat to the endangered whale population. Slowing ship speeds have proved to reduce the risk of such fatal strikes.
"When you slow ships down you provide whale conservation and cleaner air for us to breathe here on shore," said Kristi Birney, marine conservation analyst for the Santa Barbara-based Environmental Defense Center, one of the backers of the initiative.
The institutions that supported this programme also include the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, NOAA's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and the Volgenau Foundation.