A new report reveals that maritime-related air pollution has decreased over the past six years – in some cases by as much as 40 percent – including at the Port of Everett.

The report was issued by the Puget Sound Maritime Air Forum, a voluntary association of private and public maritime organizations and government agencies. The forum also issued a baseline report in 2005.

The latest, 2011 Puget Sound Maritime Air Emissions Inventory reveals a reduction in estimated greenhouse gases, diesel particulate matter and a number of other pollutants, such as sulfur dioxides and volatile organic compounds.

The inventory focused on emissions produced by ocean going ships, harbor vessels, cargo-handling equipment, rail, heavy-duty trucks, terminal fleet vehicles and recreational vessels associated with maritime activities.

The Port of Everett participated in the inventory as a member of the forum. The inventory report was released Oct. 30. The report compares the differences and reductions in emission levels between the 2005 and 2011 data.

As a result of numerous air emissions reduction efforts undertaken since 2005, region-wide emissions reduced by:

• 40 percent reduction in volatile organic compounds;

• 33 percent reduction in carbon monoxide;

• 16 percent reductions in particulate matter and diesel particulate matter respectively

Members of the Puget Sound Maritime Air Forum include the Ports of Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Olympia, and Anacortes, BNSF Railway, Western States Petroleum Assoc., NW & Canada Cruise Ship Assoc, Pacific Merchant Shipping Assoc., EPA, Dept of Ecology, NW Clean Air Agency, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and WSDOT – Ferries.

The inventories taken were voluntary and not part of a regulatory effort. All forum members implemented significant efforts and programs towards reducing emission levels, improving air quality while promoting greater business efficiencies.

The Port of Everett has implemented several emission reduction initiatives during these two inventories. A sampling of these includes:

The port operates more than 20 percent of its cargo handling equipment on non-diesel fuels, including six electric forklifts, five propane forklifts and three gasoline forklifts.

Installed an electric rail mounted gantry crane for cargo handling at Mount Baker Terminal. This crane joins the port’s two electric gantry cranes in operation at Pacific Terminal.

In 2008, the port transitioned all diesel cargo handling equipment and fleet vehicles to operate on ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel. This also included installing ULSD at our marina fuel dock, where approximately 180,000 gallons are sold every year.

In 2009 the port purchased the last of three Linde Reach Stackers; all are equipped with diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC) and are ULSD compatible.

In 2005, the Port of Everett experienced a historically low year for marine terminal operations. Marine operations saw a return to active levels in 2011.

The difference in terminal activity over those two time periods is accurately reflected on a per 10,000 tons of cargo metric. This normalized data showed:

• 28 percent reduction in nitrogen dioxide;

• 20 percent reduction in volatile organic compounds;

• 18 percent reduction in greenhouse gases;

• 15 percent reduction in carbon monoxide;

• 9 percent reduction in diesel particulate matter (DPM) and sulfur dioxide.

“All of these reductions are a direct result of the numerous efforts staff has taken over the last several years working under the umbrella of our Environmental Management System and Sustainability programs,” said Port of Everett Executive Director John Mohr.

Find the full report at www.pugetsoundmaritimeairforum.org. More information on the Port’s environmental programs can be found at www.portofeverett.com.

-Edited by Beacon staff