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The Los Angeles Harbor Commission has approved an expansion of the Port of Los Angeles' clean-ship incentive framework that will increase financial rewards for lower-emission ocean-going vessels calling at the port. The August 13 action adds an Enhanced Clean Ship Incentive Program to the binding cooperative agreement between the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The expanded program will be redesigned around the incoming Environmental Ship Index 2.0 system, with new incentive amounts, qualifying ESI score levels and potential additional environmental bonuses still to be developed. The same agreement establishes a separate zero-emission truck utilization incentive and commits the Port of Los Angeles to provide $20 million for regional zero-emission truck charging and fueling infrastructure.
Clean Ship Program Expansion Snapshot
Los Angeles has approved the framework for a larger vessel incentive program tied to the next generation of the Environmental Ship Index. Existing payments remain in place while the enhanced structure, new score thresholds and additional environmental bonuses are developed.
Current payment for vessels with an ESI score between 40 and 49.
Existing ESI payment for vessels achieving a score of 50 or greater.
Ships with qualifying IMO Tier III main engines can receive this separate clean-engine incentive.
The August approval starts the program-development process rather than establishing a new payment schedule immediately.
The next-generation ESI scoring system is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2027.
The approved addendum establishes the structure that Los Angeles must use when designing the next version of its clean-ship incentive program.
The Port of Los Angeles' separate $20 million commitment under the same agreement is earmarked for regional charging and fueling infrastructure serving zero-emission drayage trucks. The annual budget for the enhanced clean-ship incentive program has not yet been established.
Port of Los Angeles Clean Ship Incentive Calculator
Compare the current Port of Los Angeles ESI payment structure with a hypothetical enhanced program. Future ESI 2.0 incentive amounts remain adjustable because the Port has not yet established the new payment schedule.
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