Friday, September 14, 2018

More Ships Plugging in at Oakland

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Oakland recently posted its highest plug-in rate ever recorded in July when 78 percent of container ships used landside electrical power.

About 105 of 135 ships coming to Oakland plugged in at berth, a move that has significantly curbed diesel particulate exhaust.

“We’ve been working with shipping lines for a long time to accelerate the rate of shore power adoption,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “On behalf of all of us who breathe the air in Oakland, it’s gratifying to see this level of cooperation.”

The port has been pushing for a better plug-in rate since 2012 and attributes the progress in part to investments by shipowners to modernize vessels at $1 million per ship.The goal is to reach an 85 percent plug-in rate by 2020.