The Northwest Seaport Alliance Clean Truck Program has been named as a finalist in the International Association of Ports and Harbors’ World Ports Sustainability Program Awards in the Community Outreach and Port City Dialogue category.  

The finalists for this category also included the Yeosu Gwangyang Port in South Korea and the Port of Vigo in Spain, which received the award this year.  

Implementation of the NWSA Clean Truck Program, starting in January 2019, has significantly decreased diesel pollution from trucks serving the international container terminals in Seattle and Tacoma. Because newer engines emit 90% less diesel particulate matter, the program has helped reduce more than 33 tons of diesel particulate matter annually. The benefits translate to cleaner, healthier air for the people who work and live on or near our harbors.   

The success of the program centered on a large-scale effort to improve outreach and education on trucking issues within the gateway, including: 

• Hosting free workshops for truckers on diesel particulate filter (DPF) maintenance, safety, financing and translation support. 
• Finding cost-effective ways for drivers to update their trucks and present findings at the recurring meetings with the trucking community. 
• Supporting the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency’s online DPF maintenance training videos, available in seven languages. 

The NWSA also collaborated with the Pacific Northwest trucking community and various agencies: Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington Department of Ecology, African Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest, City of Seattle, and Washington Trucking Associations.  

IAPH established the World Ports Sustainability Program in 2018. Guided by the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, it aims to unite sustainability efforts of ports worldwide, encouraging international cooperation between all partners involved in the maritime supply chain.  

About International Association of Ports and Harbors 

Founded in 1955, the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) is a non-profit-making global alliance of 170 ports and 140 port-related organizations covering 90 countries. Its member ports handle more than 60 percent of global maritime trade and around 80% of world container traffic. IAPH has consultative NGO status with several United Nations agencies. In 2018, IAPH established the World Ports Sustainability Program (WPSP). Guided by the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, it aims to unite sustainability efforts of ports worldwide, encouraging international cooperation between all partners involved in the maritime supply chain. WPSP covers five main areas of collaboration: energy transition, resilient infrastructure, safety and security, community outreach and governance.