Study Confirms When California Loses Cargo, Greenhouse Gases Increase

The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) shares a new study released today that demonstrates that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can increase when vessels carrying cargo originating in Asia bypass seaports on the U.S. West Coast. The study analyzed a number of factors including port of origin, port of destination, ultimate inland destination and vessel sizes. As a result, if state and local regulations and policies result in the diversion of cargo flows and economic benefits from the U.S. West Coast to East Coast and Gulf ports, these policies will actually result in increases to greenhouse gas emissions.

The analysis from Starcrest Consulting Group, LLC evaluates the relative differences in GHG emissions between the traditional shipping routes from the Far East to U.S. West Coast ports and inland U.S. destinations, to longer routes through East and Gulf Coast ports by utilizing a technical comparison tool. The study can be accessed here.

California and Pacific Northwest (PNW) ports offer the most direct shipping route from Asia to the U.S., and to inland U.S. destinations. However, the U.S. West Coast has been losing market share to other ports as cargo owners are choosing to ship to these alternative gateways with longer transit times and distances. Due to investments in transportation infrastructure, lower operational costs, state and local incentives, and fewer cumbersome environmental regulations by other ports, cargo owners have more U.S. gateway choices than ever before.

The study demonstrates that U.S. West Coast ports largely have an environmental advantage over East Coast and Gulf ports in the total GHGs emitted per container. The findings conclude that for cargo originating from Asia:

• GHG emissions are, on average, 19% higher when shipping lines utilize East Coast or Gulf Coast ports over the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles; 26% over the PNW ports.
• GHG Emissions can double when cargo is shipped through the Port of New York & New Jersey; up to 92% over the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, and up to 104% over the PNW ports.
• Moving cargo through Savannah, GA rather than the PNW increases GHG emissions by up to 94%.
• Moving cargo through the Gulf Coast rather than the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles increases emissions by up to 64%.

"This study demonstrates the environmental risk associated with cargo diversion," said Thomas Jeleni?, Vice President of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA). "Public officials must take a holistic approach when it comes to climate change policies. Doing so is essential in keeping cargo and union jobs at the nation's cleanest ports here on the West Coast, as well as ensuring that GHG emissions are simply not being shifted elsewhere."

The GHG Route Comparison Tool analyzes emissions associated with vessel routes from South Korea, China and Singapore to West Coast, Gulf Coast and East Coast ports via the Pacific Ocean, Suez and Panama canals, with ultimate destinations of Chicago, St. Louis and Memphis. The tool is also publicly released today.

About the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA).

The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) is an independent, not-for-profit association focused on global trade. PMSA operates offices in Oakland, Long Beach and Seattle, and represents owners and operators of marine terminals and U.S. and foreign vessels operating throughout the world. For more information, visit www.pmsaship.com.

About Starcrest Consulting, L.L.C.

Starcrest Consulting Group specializes in assisting port and maritime clients address their technical and policy related air quality, climate, sustainability, and data management needs. For more information, visit www.starcrestllc.com.

Download a copy of the study here.
Download a copy of the California tool here.
Download a copy of the Pacific Northwest tool here.
Download a study infographic here.
Download a study video here.