---

A recently updated study says that the Port of Seattle offers the lowest carbon footprint for containers moving from Asia to the US Midwest.

The 2011 'Carbon Footprint Study for the Asia to North America Intermodal Trade', conducted by ship design, engineering and transportation consulting firm Herbert Engineering Corp., builds upon the 2009 study and reconfirms that the Port of Seattle is the 'Green Gateway' for trade.

"This is great news for the Port of Seattle," said port CEO Tay Yoshitani. "Being the Green Gateway means we are protecting the environment while working with our customers to bring economic growth to the region."

A new feature developed with the study allows easy determination of a container's carbon footprint. The Green Gateway Carbon Calculator allows shippers to compare the CO2e per TEU through various North American gateways, factoring in different vessel sizes and utilizations, and the recent trend of slow steaming.

The carbon calculator is now available on the port's website at http://www.portseattle.org/seaport/cargo/GreenGateway.shtml

To view the Carbon Footprint Study, please visit the following address:

http://www.portseattle.org/downloads/seaport/GG_Key_Findings_2011071.pdf

Herbert Engineering's study, commissioned by the Port of Seattle, calculated the carbon footprint of trade routes from the Asian ports of Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh, Busan, and Tokyo to the U.S. distribution hubs of Chicago, Columbus, Memphis, New York, Norfolk, and Atlanta via the North American gateways of Prince Rupert, Seattle, Oakland, Los Angeles/Long Beach, Houston, Savannah, Norfolk, and New York/New Jersey.

The study analyzed the ship, truck, and rail segments of each trade route, including the all water routes via the soon to be expanded Panama Canal and the Suez Canal. Vessel analysis was conducted for ship sizes of 4,500, 6,500, 8,500, and 12,500 TEUs travelling at design and slow steaming speeds, with utilization rates of 60 percent to 90 percent.

The Port of Seattle’s environmental efforts include the At-Berth Clean (ABC) Fuels Program; shore power for cruise vessels; and programs to reduce emissions from cargo-handling equipment.