[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 45 (Thursday, March 31, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E583-E584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




STATEMENT TO CONGRATULATE MAERSK ON THE FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR 
                       SWITCH TO LOW-SULFUR FUEL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 31, 2011

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, today marks the five year anniversary of 
Maersk Line's voluntary switch to low-sulfur Marine Gas Oil for the 
main and auxiliary engines for their 188 ships docked in California 
ports. As a representative of the 37th District of California, home to 
the largest port complex in the country, I applaud them and thank them 
for being an example of corporate responsibility to the citizens of the 
world.
  Maersk Line is the largest container shipment company in the world. 
Founded in 1904, Maersk operates over 550 vessels and employs 24,500 
people in 125 countries across the globe.
  This voluntary action increased costs for the company by $20 million, 
but the 60,000 barrels of low-sulfur fuel that they used have lead to 
short and long-term health benefits for the people of my District and 
throughout Southern California. In the past five years, this switch has 
reduced their ship's contribution to air pollution by 3700 tons through 
lowering their Sulfur-Dioxide levels by 95%, their Nitrogen Oxide 
levels by 6%, and their Particle Matter levels by 86%.
  I would like to thank Maersk again for making this incredible change 
and look forward to seeing what they accomplish in the future.

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