Mayor Hahn Signs Environmental Technology Sharing Agreement Between Ports of Los Angeles and Shanghai.

Business/News Editors

SHANGHAI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 25, 2002

Mayor Jim Hahn today announced an historic agreement between the Ports of Los Angeles and Shanghai to share technology aimed at improving air quality, water quality and mitigating environmental impacts of port operations.

"With this Green Port agreement, two global leaders in maritime commerce are making a firm commitment to address and work collaboratively on resolutions around environmental issues of international importance," said Mayor Hahn.

"Agreements like this partnership are crucial to the Port of Los Angeles to ensure we are using best practices to minimize environmental effects from waterborne trade," Mayor Hahn added.

During a signing ceremony, representatives signed the "Shanghai-Los Angeles Green Port Program." Three specific areas were outlined as part of the agreement:

Air Quality Initiatives. The Ports agreed to collaborate on the resolution of shared air quality issues associated with international ship transport, including:

-- Encouraging the purchase of low-emission commercial ship engines.

-- Investigating and encouraging the use of cleaner fuels for ships and terminal equipment.

Water Quality Initiatives. The Ports agreed to collaborate on the resolution of shared water quality issues associated with international ship transport, including:

-- Trans-pacific cooperation to investigate and implement

structural and operational controls on ballast water

discharges to limit the introduction of invasive species.

-- Cooperative development and implementation for water discharge

best management practices to control discharges from ship and

marine terminals into the port, coastal or oceanic waters.

Technology Sharing and Educational Outreach Initiatives. The Ports agreed to collaborate in the effort to increase awareness within the shipping industry to mitigate environmental impacts, including:

-- Participation in an annual forum to discuss shared

environmental issues and propose solutions.

-- Sharing of technology and knowledge in regard to port

construction and operation including dredge material

management, and natural resource issues.

The Green Port Program signed by the parties is valid indefinitely.

During the meetings on the ninth day of his trade and tourism mission to Asia, Mayor Hahn, Harbor Commissioner James Acevedo, and Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Larry Keller met with port officials in Shanghai to discuss the program.

"We are excited to partner with the Port of Shanghai to combine resources in order to address serious environmental concerns impacting our harbors from the significant volume of maritime trade that passes through our waterways," Acevedo said. "At the Port of Los Angeles, we are taking industry-leading steps to identify and mitigate environmental issues. This agreement will enhance these efforts."

As part of its ongoing environmental initiatives, the Board of Harbor Commissioners last month approved the Port of Los Angeles Clean Air Program (POLACAP), which designates $2.8 million to fund innovative emission-reducing terminal and ship operations programs. These programs support Mayor Hahn's "no net increase" for emissions pledge.

The Port's voluntary vessel speed reduction program, in which ships reduce their speeds to 12 knots within 20 miles of the Port could reduce smog-causing NOx emissions by up to 4 tons per day, if fully implemented.

"The Port of Los Angeles is committed to conducting trade in an environmentally responsible manner," Keller said. "We welcome our new partners in joining this important effort and taking a leadership position to enhance the environment of port communities around the world."

The Port of Los Angeles has 29 major cargo terminals, including facilities to handle automobiles, containers, dry bulk products and liquid bulk products. Combined, these terminals handle more than 80 million metric revenue tons of cargo representing some $80 billion. Its six modern container facilities together handle in excess of four million units of cargo containers annually, making the POLA one of the top 10 busiest ports in the world.

Mayor Hahn embarked on the first Asian trade and tourism mission of his administration on November 16. The 10-day mission, coordinated by the Mayor's Office of International Trade, took Mayor Hahn, city officials and business leaders to Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. His last stop is in Taipei.

Already Mayor Hahn has met with Korean President Kim Dae-Jung, Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak, and Beijing Mayor Liu Qi. While in Beijing, Mayor Hahn secured major partnership agreements with the Beijing government making it easier for Los Angeles firms to assist Beijing in upgrading its airport, and designating Los Angeles as the gateway to Beijing for the 2008 Olympics.

During the trip, Mayor Hahn announced key tourism packages to promote travel from Korea and Japan. In Tokyo, he was joined by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii to unveil a celebrity-driven "See My LA" campaign.

Mayor Hahn is seeking to increase tourism and economic development opportunities for the City of Los Angeles by leveraging the extensive capabilities of the three proprietary departments, the Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles World Airports and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and LA Inc., the Los Angeles Convention & Visitor Bureau.