“K” Line receives recognition for vessel speed reduction programs in the West Coast of North America
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) has announced that National Ocean and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) has honored “K” Line with a gold award for the company’s participation with the high level of compliance rate during 2018 voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) Incentive program.
The program aims to protect whales in Santa Barbara Channel and San Francisco Bay Area, and calls for vessels’ speed reduction sailing these waters. We have been participating in this program since last year and have been highly evaluated for the eco-friendly slow steaming of our car carrier vessels in the waters between July and November last year. In addition, at the Port of Long Beach, we have been commended for the program called ”Green Flag Program” by the port authority for fourteen consecutive years since 2005, which is asking vessels to reduce its speed within 40 nautical miles (about 74 kilometers) from the port in order to prevent air pollution.
In 2018, we achieved a high compliance rate of over 90% for vessels’ slow steaming. “K” Line Group continues its focus on contributing to environmental and biodiversity conservation through its active participation in environmental initiatives taken by port authorities around the world in order to fulfill our mission to hand down a sustainable society as well as this blue and beautiful ocean to the next generation under “K” Line Environmental Vision 2050.
