Pasha Hawaii’s newest vessel, powered by liquefied natural gas, was christened during a Sept. 1 ceremony at the Port of Long Beach.
Accompanied by speeches and the breaking of a champagne bottle, the ceremony marked the start of regular service of the m/v George III, one of the cleanest container ships to call at Long Beach.
The 774-foot LNG-fueled containership is the first of two new “’Ohana Class” vessels to join Pasha Hawaii’s fleet, serving the Hawaii-Mainland trade lane, according to the company.
The George III made its initial call at the Port on Aug. 17 when it became the first LNG-powered container ship to refuel on the West Coast.
“We would like to thank the Pasha family for choosing to hold this very special event at the Port of Long Beach,” the port’s Executive Director Mario Cordero said. “We are proud to welcome a vessel that represents our move toward a cleaner future for this port, our community and the supply chain.”
LNG-powered ships achieve a 99.9% reduction in diesel particulate matter and sulfur oxide emissions, a 90% reduction in nitrogen oxides and a 25% reduction in carbon dioxide compared to ships running on traditional fuels.
“Our ability to accommodate the m/v George III aligns with the port’s ongoing dedication to environmental sustainability,” Long Beach Harbor Commission President Sharon Weissman remarked. “The Port of Long Beach is proud to be a regular stop where this ship and others like it will be able to refuel with liquefied natural gas.”