Press Release

May 26 , 2006

Contact: Annette Kondo

213-630-1192 x. 103
818-599-4911 (cell)
Annette@coalitionforcleanair.org

Coalition for Clean Air Applauds Maersk Line’s Decision to
Use Cleaner Fuels in its Ships
En Español

LOS ANGELES - The Coalition for Clean Air applauds the leadership of Maersk Line in announcing its decision today to use cleaner fuels in its ships that bring consumer products into California.

The shipment of goods to the ports – and across California–is a deadly source of pollution from the coast to the valleys.

Ships are one of the primary sources of pollution in the growing goods movement system, and they run on the dirtiest fuel available, known as bunker fuel, which has an average sulfur content of 27,000 ppm. (See 2004 report, “Harboring Pollution – Strategies to Clean Up U.S. Ports,” co-authored by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Coalition for Clean Air; www.coalitionforcleanair.org)

“Cleaner fuels in Maersk ships will result in a cleaner coast and will help protect the health of Californians from Oakland to Los Angeles,” said Martin Schlageter, Coalition for Clean Air’s Campaign and Advocacy Director. “Maersk’s use of lower sulfur fuel comes at a time when action to clean up our ports is most needed.”

A recent study by the California Air Resources Board estimates 2,400 premature deaths every year due to the huge amounts of pollution from the ports and goods movement system. Without further action, ships are projected to contribute 65% of all diesel particulate matter attributable to the goods movement system in California by 2020.

Maersk is demonstrating that carriers can exceed the requirements of the December 2005 Auxiliary Engine rule which calls for cleaner fuels in 2007 – and that they can do it today. “As the dominant carrier visiting California, they are moving ahead of the industry by showing that cleaner fuels can dramatically cut pollution from the propulsion engines of ships,” Schlageter said.

In an industry that has been virtually unregulated for decades, Maersk’s commitment to clean up its operations is likely to put pressure on other carriers to follow their lead. CCA congratulates Maersk on its leadership to clean the air in California and beyond.

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For more than 35 years, the non-profit Coalition for Clean Air has worked to restore clean air to California. With offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno, it is focused on reducing pollution, protecting natural resources and strengthening the California environmental community.

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