The Port of Long Beach (POLB) on 17 August welcomed Pasha Hawaii’s George III, the first container ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) to refuel on the West Coast of the United States.
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. And there’s another LNG Pasha ship on the the way – the Janet Marie 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 US mainland.
George Pasha IV, president and CEO of Pasha Hawaii, stated, “Being able to fuel George III with natural gas at the port [of Long Beach] reflects our shared vision of minimizing our environmental impact, while setting a new standard for ship building in the US.”
Operating fully on natural gas, the new vessel surpasses the International Maritime Organization’s 2030 emission standards for ocean vessels, according to a statement.
POLB said that LNG-powered ships achieve a 99.9% reduction in diesel particulate matter and sulfur oxide emissions, 90% less nitrogen oxides and a 25% reduction in carbon dioxide compared to ships running on traditional fuels.
“Reducing ship emissions will have a significant and positive impact on the region’s air quality,” said POLB executive director, Mario Cordero.
“This is another positive step toward the widespread adoption of alternative fuels in cargo shipping and using cleaner technology to do business at the port,” commented harbor commission president, Sharon L. Weissman.
