The Port of Long Beach has introduced a new way for shipping lines to earn more reductions in port dockage fees.

All the line has to do is slow to 12 knots within 40 nautical miles of Point Fermin starting April 1.

If the vessel slows down 90 percent of the time for a quarter ?? such as the three-month period April through June ?? it can submit an application to receive a rebate check for 25 percent of dockage fees for that quarter.

If a line is already qualified for 20 nautical miles in 2009 to earn the Green Flag Programme's 15 percent discount, if it starts slowing from 40 nautical miles it will get an additional 25 percent discount for a total 40 percent savings.