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Environment

Environmental Initiatives

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Carbon Inventory and Reduction Goal
APL performs an annual, corporate-wide, carbon inventory, identifying all Scope 1 direct emissions from our ships, terminals and warehousing operations. Since 2010, our carbon footprint is independently verified by a third-party class society verifier. APL’s 2015 goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with cargo transportation and handling to 30% below 2009 emissions levels. We are on target to reach this goal and the initiatives listed on this sheet represent just some of our measures to achieve it.

Efficient Vessels
New Builds: APL has introduced 10 new vessels with another 22 to be delivered in the next two years. These larger, environmentally friendly, energy efficient and cold-iron capable ships will further reduce carbon and criteria pollutant emissions in our fleet operations.

Innovative Technologies
Seawater Scrubber: APL took the lead in installing and testing an advanced emission control technology in which seawater is used to scrub contaminants from a ship’s auxiliary engines and boiler before exiting the exhaust stack of a ship. This technology reduces PM by up to 85%, VOC by 90%, NOx by 10%, and nearly eliminates all SOx emissions.

Ballast Water Treatment: APL pioneered an innovative Venturi oxygen stripping system to eradicate invasive species in ballast water without chemicals.

Electro-Chlorination systems are installed on APL new builds.

Operational Improvements
Green Passport: Used for all APL line-haul vessels, this certificate documents the hazardous material used in construction. It accompanies the ship throughout its operating life and is updated during equipment changes. The ultimate owner of the ship will deliver it with the vessel to the recycling facility to allow for proper processing of the materials

Slow Steaming and Route Optimization: Operating vessels at slower speeds, reduces emissions including CO2, CO, SOx, NOx, and PM. For our customers, slow steaming means a lower carbon footprint per TEU. Similarly, our advanced route optimization systems aid in planning the most fuel efficient and on-time voyages.

Port Programs: APL vessels routinely participate in port related initiatives, from cleaner burning fuels to voluntary speed reductions, all of which improve air quality.

Terminals and Logistics

Containerization
Container Pioneers: APL introduced 45’; 48’, and most recently, 53’ containers to increase capacity, resulting in fewer drayage moves and emissions per box.

Cargo Handling
Biodiesel Fuel: In Seattle, APL uses biodiesel blend in its yard tractors. This blend of low-sulfur and biodiesel reduces PM by approximately 80%.

Electric Operations
Cold-Ironing: Through a partnership with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the California Air Resources Board, and the Port of Oakland, APL became the first terminal in the port to be capable of cold-ironing ships at the berth. By making the switch, APL cuts 50,000 pounds of NOx and 1,500 pounds of PM annually. Furthermore, all of our new builds are cold-iron capable.

Crane and Refrigerated Containers: All of APL’s terminals worldwide use electric gantry cranes. On the U.S. West Coast, over 2,600 electrical plugs power refrigerated containers in APL terminals. These electrical operations eliminate point source pollution from diesel generators.
Carbon Reduction

Eliminating Drayage: APL led the effort to develop large scale, on-dock, rail operations which eliminate the need to move containers from ships to rail terminals via public roads. Not only is highway congestion and the resulting pollution lowered but the amount of greenhouse gasses reduced is significant. For example, in 2012 we eliminated close to five million miles of truck drayage with on-dock rail, thereby reducing CO2 emissions by over 12,000 metric tons.

Warehouse Operations: APL Logistics uses an internally designed tool to calculate the carbon footprint of warehouses. By estimating the amount of greenhouse gases produced by using fossil fuels for electricity, heat, transportation, and other purposes at each warehouse, APL can focus its carbon reduction efforts in an efficient manner.



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