OOCL has announced that its 121 vessels taking part in a voluntary speed reduction programme achieved a 100 per cent compliance rate with the Port of Long Beach's Green Flag Incentive Programme in 2006.

The Green Flag Incentive Programme was launched by the Port of Long Beach in January 2005 as a voluntary initiative to improve air quality.

Vessels were asked to voluntarily reduce speed through the Fairway Channel to Los Angles and Long Beach ports. Carriers that achieved a rate of 90 per cent compliance, or higher, over a 12-month period, were eligible for a 15 per cent reduction in dockage in the following year, an OOCL statement explained.

OOCL's compliance efforts were reported to be 18 per cent above the average for all vessels, including containerships, tankers and cruise liners.