By Mark Edward Nero
On July 10, the Los Angeles and Shanghai, China ports signed a formal agreement to exchange information, technical expertise and best practices to expand use of shore power at the Port of Shanghai.
Specifically, the Port of Los Angeles will share knowledge with the Port of Shanghai on topics that include regulations, rules, standards, policies, electricity rates and incentive programs to promote shore power. Los Angeles’ technical expertise and experience is expected to help Shanghai build on its pilot program at Waigaoqiao Phase II container terminal as it adds shore power to the Yangshan Deepwater Port - Phase III and the Shanghai Wusong Cruise Terminal.
The parties are expected to begin by developing a plan within the next 30 days to implement the three-year initiative.
The signing ceremony concluded the sixth annual meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue co-chaired by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, China’s Vice Premier Wang Yang and State Councilor Yang Jiechi.
The annual conference brings the two nations together to address mutual challenges and opportunities on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues.
Chris Cannon, Director of Environmental Management for the Port of Los Angeles, signed the EcoPartnership Statement of Intent in Beijing with Director-General Jianping Sun of the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission (SMTC). The Commission, which oversees the Port of Shanghai, said the EcoPartnership builds on the collaborative work of the two ports to advance sustainable practices throughout the maritime industry.
The U.S.-China EcoPartnership Program advances goals of the Ten-Year Framework for Cooperation on Energy and the Environment, established in 2008.
The signing ceremony coincided with the 10-year anniversary of the first time a container ship anywhere in the world plugged in at berth: China Shipping’s Xin Yang Zhou at the Port of Los Angeles. Twenty-five berths at the Port of Los Angeles are now equipped with shore power.
