Thursday, August 17, 2017

Cleaner Harbor Craft

By Karen Robes Meeks

The nation’s two busiest seaports are looking to test new technologies that could make the engines of existing tugboats, barges and other harbor craft cleaner.

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are requesting proposals from companies that want to demonstrate tech that could combat diesel particulate matter, nitrogen oxide and greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution that come from harbor craft.

The demonstrations would be funded by the Technology Advancement Program, which gives each port $250,000 to study technology that could elevate harbor craft engines from Tier 2 to Tier 3 or Tier 4 standards. The upgrade would make the engines up to 70 percent cleaner.

“We are looking at ways to reduce emissions from harbor craft beyond existing regulatory requirements,” said Port of Long Beach Director of Environmental Planning Heather Tomley. “We need more viable cost effective technologies, and as the Green Port, we’re going to leverage all of our tools to lead the goods movement industry to a more sustainable future.”

The deadline for proposals is Sept. 21. For more, visit http://www.cleanairactionplan.org/documents/demonstration-air-pollutant-emission-reduction-technologies-commercial-harbor-craft-rfp.pdf