Port of Houston Authority, EPA, Maersk, Hamburg Sýd and Mexican Government Receive Binational Gulf Guardian Award (TX)
Port of Houston Authority, EPA, Maersk,
Hamburg Süd and Mexican Government Receive Binational Gulf
Guardian Award
(STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. July 29, 2011)
– The Gulf of Mexico Program recently announced winners of
the Gulf Guardian Award for 2011 in the Binational Category. The
Port of Houston Authority, Maersk, Hamburg Süd, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Mexican government,
including the State of Veracruz, SEMARNAT (Secretaria de Medio
Ambiente y Recursos Naturals, Mexico’s Ministry of
Environment and Natural Resources) and PEMEX, received the award
for their cooperative project to conduct the first fuel-switches in
the Gulf of Mexico and study the environmental benefits of
switching to lower sulfur diesel (1000 ppm) on ocean-going vessels.
The Awards ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Gulf of
Mexico Alliance Meeting on August 3, 2011, beginning at 6 p.m in
the Ballroom at the Westin New Orleans Canal Place in New
Orleans.
The project successfully demonstrated the
benefits of the lower sulfur fuel. On-board emission testing showed
that fuel-switching to MGO with a fuel sulfur content of less than
0.1 percent in the Gulf of Mexico led to large reductions of sulfur
oxide (SOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions. The Maersk
Roubaix total emission reductions for fuel switches conducted at
both the Port of Houston and the Port of Progreso amounted to 0.24
tons of PM2.5 (87% reduction) and 2.05 tons of SOx (94% reduction).
The Hamburg Süd Cap San Lorenzo total emission reductions for
fuel switches conducted at the Port of Houston, Port of Veracruz
and Port of Altamira were 0.17 tons of PM2.5 (54% reduction) and
3.13 tons of SOx (99.7% reduction).
The fuel switching conducted by these ships is
the same practice that will be required by the North American
Emission Control Area, which ECA mandates that within 200 nautical
miles, vessels switch fuel to lower sulfur with a maximum of 0.1
percent sulfur content starting in August 2012. This project
showcased fuel-switching in the Gulf of Mexico prior to the NA ECA;
while providing confirmation of its feasibility and effectiveness
in the Gulf of Mexico. During the demonstrations, the vessels
tested did not encounter any operational issues or concerns from
the fuel-switching. This project has led to other major
fuel-switching projects conducted at the Port Authority. By
successfully demonstrating fuel-switching in the three Mexican
ports, this project has elevated awareness of the human health and
ecological benefits for the Mexican government and has educated
their officials, about the efficacy of fuel switching provisions,
such as those in the NA ECA, for reducing air pollution from
ships.
The Gulf of Mexico Program initiated the Gulf
Guardian awards in 2000 as a way to recognize and honor the
businesses, community groups, individuals, and agencies that are
taking positive steps to keep the Gulf healthy, beautiful and
productive. First-, second- and third-place awards are given in
seven categories: individual, business, youth environmental
education, civic/nonprofit organizations, cultural
diversity/environmental justice, partnership and bi-national
efforts.
"The Gulf Guardian Award winners demonstrate
great examples of collaborative efforts leading to solutions that
address the Gulf of Mexico environment," said EPA Regional
Administrator Al Armendariz. "Their accomplishments are making a
positive difference in protecting and restoring the Gulf and EPA is
pleased to recognize their environmental stewardship."
The Gulf of Mexico Program began in 1988 to
protect, restore and maintain the health and productivity of the
Gulf of Mexico ecosystem in economically sustainable ways. The Gulf
of Mexico Program is underwritten by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and is a non-regulatory, inclusive consortium of
state and federal government agencies and representatives of the
business and agricultural community, fishing industry, scientists,
environmentalists and community leaders from all five Gulf States.
The Gulf Program seeks to improve the environmental health of the
Gulf in concert with economic development.
Gloria Car, Acting Director of the Gulf of
Mexico Program, said, “This is the11th year of the Gulf
Guardian Awards Program, and I am proud to say that each year the
winners in all categories have represented the very best of
environmental accomplishments in the Gulf of Mexico. The
partnership of the Gulf of Mexico Program works to improve the
environmental health of the Gulf, and the Gulf Guardian Awards is
an important way for us to recognize these valuable efforts. The
2011 award winners truly exemplify the enthusiastic and committed
citizens, communities, governments, and businesses that address
complex problems to improve, protect, and sustain our regional and
national treasure, the Gulf of Mexico.
For more information regarding this cooperative,
binational, fuel-switching demonstration, please contact Dana
Blume, Environmental Affairs Department Manager, at (713)
650-2650
Editor’s Notes: For more information
about the Gulf Guardian Awards and the Gulf of Mexico Program, call
the Gulf of Mexico Program Office at 228-688-3726 or visit our web
site at https://www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico.