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Maritime Stories and Highlights
Celebrating the Vessel Operators Who Choose to Slow Down
A ship sails in the bay

Celebrating the Vessel Operators Who Choose to Slow Down

This year, we’re honored to celebrate the vessel operators participating in our voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction program. Reducing vessel speeds can decrease air emissions, improve air quality, and enhance our bay of life

About the Voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction Program

The Voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction Program is an objective of the Maritime Clean Air Strategy to lower the emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gasses from cargo and cruise ships, by reducing speeds in the vicinity of San Diego Bay.  

Speed Reductions for Participating Vessels

  • Participating cargo vessels reduce their speed to no more than 12 knots
  • Participating cruise vessels reduce their speeds to no more than 15 knots 
Aerial of cargo vessel entering San Diego Bay

Operators Who Are Reducing Their Speeds

Holland America's Koningsdam in Port

Reducing their speed within 20 nautical miles:  

  • Dowa
  • Grieg star
  • Holland America
  • Intermarine
  • MOL
  • Pasha Hawaiian Lines
  • US Army 
     

Reducing their speed within 20 and 40 miles:

  • Princess Cruises
  • Paramount Shipping Services
  • BigLift
  • LDC
  • BBC Chartering
  • Dole
  • Liberty Maritime
  • Ben Nevis Shipping
  • CIDO
  • Pacific Basin
  • Zucarmex
  • HMM
  • Siversea
  • Viking
  • NYK Line
  • Disney Cruise Line
  • Canada Steamship Lines 
     
Cargo - Dole Ship

The Voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction Program and the Port of San Diego

At the Port of San Diego, we consider ourselves environmental champions. As environmental champions, we have set ambitious goals and objectives focused on improving air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting and improving the health of our ocean and its ecosystems.

The Vessel Speed Reduction Program is a part of how we can achieve these goals. For a brief overview of our additional environmental work, visit our Maritime Month page. To continue your deep dive into our goals and protecting and improving the health of our ocean and its ecosystems, visit our Maritime Clean Air Strategy page.