Ceremony Held at the Port of Los Angeles in Recognition of the First Operation of LNG-Powered Terminal Tractors
October 25, 2005
Yusen Terminals Inc. (YTI; Terminal Island, California), one of NYK's U.S.-based subsidiaries, together with Sound Energy Solutions Terminal LLC (SES; Long Beach, California) recently held a celebration at the Yusen Terminal in the port of Los Angeles recognizing the operation of the world's first low-emission LNG terminal tractors.
Around 120 dignitaries attended the ceremony including Mr. Alexander C. Kim on behalf of the governor of California; Ms. Janice Hahn, Los Angeles city council member; Mr. S. David Freeman, director of the Ports and Harbors Bureau; and Mr. Chung Liu, deputy executive officer of the South Coast Air Quality Management District. A demonstration of the LNG tractors was part of the ceremony.
LNG tractors are fueled by clean liquefied natural gas that reduces the emission of nitrogen oxide (NOx) by approximately 65 percent and particulate matter (PM) by approximately 80 percent in comparison to diesel-fueled vehicles. YTI ordered two tractors in July of last year and took delivery of them on October 4 of this year.
NYK strives to reduce the impact of spent fossil fuels on the environment by applying environmentally friendly technologies to transport vehicles, cargo-handling equipment, and vessels.
 |
 |
Tractors fueled with liquefied natural gas and used for the transportation of containers around the container terminal.
---Sound Energy Solutions Terminal LLC---This company is a joint venture between the Mitsubishi Corporation and Conoco Phillips (Texas). The company proposes construction of a LNG receiving terminal at the port of Long Beach in California. Applications have been filed with federal regulators for the permission of terminal operation. Operation is planned to begin in the year 2010. The terminal will be able to receive 5,000,000 tons of LNG annually, an amount equivalent to almost 10 percent of California's natural gas demand.