Janet Marie containership among cleanest in industry, makes inaugural visit to Port

The Port of Long Beach welcomed the latest green container vessel to Pasha Hawaii’s fleet, the MV Janet Marie.

The Janet Marie, the company’s second of two “Ohana Class” container ships powered by liquefied natural gas, made its maiden voyage early Saturday from Long Beach to its home port in Honolulu. Its companion, Pasha Hawaii’s MV George III, was the first LNG container ship to refuel on the West Coast during its initial call to the Port of Long Beach in August 2022.

“Pasha Hawaii’s newest containership represents our move toward a cleaner future for this Port, our community, and the supply chain,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “Reducing emissions caused by port operations has been a long-time practice for us, and remains our priority until we reach a goal of deploying all zero-emission cargo-handling equipment by 2030, and zero-emission trucks by 2035.”

“We are proud to be one of the global ports capable of accommodating ships operating on cleaner fuels, putting us on a path to enhancing air quality throughout the region,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Sharon L. Weissman. “We thank Pasha Hawaii for leading the way in cleaner shipping at the Green Port.”

“These ships symbolize the best of American ingenuity and ship building,” said George Pasha IV, President and CEO, Pasha Hawaii. “We are extremely grateful to the Port of Long Beach for their invaluable partnership and support in bringing both George III and Janet Marie to fruition.”

The vessel was named after Pasha’s late mother, Janet Marie, while the George III was named for his late father.

By fully operating on natural gas, the Janet Marie surpasses the International Maritime Organization’s 2030 emission standards for ocean vessels, representing the most technologically advanced and environmentally friendly class of vessel to serve Hawaii and one of several that serve Long Beach. The vessel also achieves energy efficiencies with a state-of-the-art engine, an optimized hull form and an underwater propulsion system with a high-efficiency rudder and propeller.

Accommodating Pasha Hawaii’s LNG-fueled vessels aligns with the Port of Long Beach’s dedication to environmental sustainability and strengthens its commitment to the Green Port Policy and San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan. Those historic actions have led to unprecedented reductions in emissions connected to goods movement as the Port continues to work toward meeting a goal of deploying all zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment by 2030 and zero-emissions trucks by 2035.

The Port of Long Beach is a global leader in green port initiatives and top-notch customer service, moving cargo with reliability, speed and efficiency. As the premier U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade, the Port handles trade valued at $200 billion annually and supports 2.6 million jobs across the United States, including 575,000 in Southern California. In 2022, industry leaders named it “The Best West Coast Seaport in North America” for the fourth consecutive year. During the next 10 years, the Port is planning $2.2 billion in capital improvements aimed at enhancing capacity, competitiveness and sustainability.

Pasha Hawaii, an independent operating subsidiary of The Pasha Group, is one of the nation’s leading domestic ocean shipping companies serving Hawaii from the continental United States. The company operates a fleet of fully Jones Act-qualified vessels and operates out of multiple port terminals. Pasha Hawaii is a trusted partner for many of the nation’s leading retailers, manufacturers and U.S. government agencies, providing reliable containerized and roll-on/roll-off cargo services that leverage its unique combination of ocean transportation and inland distribution capabilities to deliver goods that are vital to the people of the State of Hawaii and the prosperity of the Hawaii market it serves.