Port Metro Vancouver Installing More Shoreside Power

By Mark Edward Nero

The Canadian government has approved funding for the installation of shore power facilities for container vessels at two Port Metro Vancouver container terminals, the port revealed during a July 22 announcement.

“We are proud to be investing in shore power at Port Metro Vancouver’s Centerm and Deltaport container terminals,” Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Canada’s Minister of National Revenue, said. “Federal initiatives such as the Shore Power Technology for Ports Program will not only help the environment and improve our health, but will also position British Columbia’s trade sectors to take advantage of growth opportunities, increase revenues and create jobs.”

Shore power reduces port emissions by allowing vessels to draw power from the local electrical grid and thereby turn off their diesel engines while at berth. Port Metro Vancouver was the first port in Canada to implement shore power for cruise ships, and since 2009 more than 11,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions have been avoided, according to the port.

The total project funding is $12 million: $6 million from Transport Canada’s Shore Power Technology for Ports Program and $6 million from Port Metro Vancouver.

Additionally, $4.97 million – $2.485 million from Transport Canada, $2.485 million from Port Metro Vancouver – is to be used to install shore power technology at a berth at Global Container Terminal’s Deltaport terminal in Delta, B.C.

Also, another $7.3 million – $3.8 million from Port Metro Vancouver, $3.5 million from Transport Canada – is earmarked for the installation of shore power technology at a berth at DP World Vancouver’s Centerm Container terminal in Vancouver and necessary upgrades on nearby BC Hydro property.

Each ship connection to shore power is estimated to avoid greenhouse gas emissions of 75 tons. Both shore power operations are expected to be operational by March 31, 2017.

LA, Shanghai Ports Partner on Shore Power

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.

San Diego Shore Power Project Wins Award

By Mark Edward Nero

The shoreside power system at the Port of San Diego’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal was selected in March as a public works 2014 Project of the Year by the American Public Works Association, a not-for-profit, professional association of public works agencies, private companies and individuals.

The shore power system, which was dedicated Feb. 24, aims to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by allowing cargo vessels to plug-in and use electrical power from San Diego Gas & Electric instead of relying on diesel fuel engines while in port.

Construction on the $4.25 million project began in mid-2013 and was funded by the port’s Capital Improvement Program. The contractor was San Diego-based NEWest Construction.

The project was undertaken as part of a mandate set forth by the California Air Resources Board requiring California ports and terminals to provide shore power to container, passenger and refrigerated-cargo ships.

The Port of San Diego is already equipped to provide shore power to cruise ships that berth at both its B Street Pier Cruise Ship Terminal and Broadway Pier.

“The port is proud to be honored for a project that contributes to our environmental stewardship around San Diego Bay,” Board of Port Commissioners Chair Bob Nelson said in a statement.

POSD Completes Shore Power Installation

By Mark Edward Nero

The Port of San Diego held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Feb. 24 to commemorate its successful switch to a new shore-power system at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.

Construction on the $4.25 million project began in mid-2013 and was funded by a port capital improvement program. The contractor was San Diego-based NEWest Construction.

The shore power installation can help improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by allowing cargo vessels to plug into shoreside electricity rather than run their diesel engines while in port.

Expected environmental benefits include an over 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions – more than 2,000 metric tons – per year; and a 95 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx) per year, or about 70 tons. “By offering shore power, we not only improve air quality for communities nearby, but we also reduce our impact on the planet,” Board of Port Commissioners Chair Bob Nelson said.

Speakers at the ribbon cutting ceremony included US Rep. Scott Peters (D-La Jolla), City of San Diego Interim Mayor Todd Gloria and Stuart Jablon, vice president of Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal tenant Dole Fresh Fruit, which imports about 185 million bananas through the Port of San Diego each month.

The project fulfills a mandate set forth by the California Air Resources Board requiring California ports and terminals to provide shore power to container, passenger and refrigerated-cargo ships. The Port of San Diego’s already equipped to provide shore power to cruise ships that berth at the B Street Pier Cruise Ship Terminal and Broadway Pier.

Port of Oakland Completes Shoreside Power Infrastructure

Officials from the Port of Oakland, US Maritime Administration and Pacific Merchant Shipping Association and other agencies gathered Nov. 8 to mark the completion of construction of shoreside power infrastructure at the Port of Oakland.

Shore power – the shore-to-ship connection that provides electrical power to the ship, thereby significantly reducing diesel and other air pollutant emissions from ships while they are at berth – is being implemented at the Port of Oakland in a two-phase, multi-year program covering 11 berths. The port has completed construction of the new electrical infrastructure system, with final testing of the system scheduled to be complete before the end of the year.

The total cost for just the shoreside infrastructure was about $70 million, with the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) contributed $12.8 million.

“The Port of Oakland’s shore power project received federal funding through a very competitive TIGER grant process because this project is recognized as creating a valuable, sustainable, green trade corridor,” MARAD Associate Administrator Keith Lesnick said.

An additional $20 million was awarded to the port by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)/Federal Highway Administration.

In 2008, the California Air Resources Board adopted a directive to require reductions of air pollutants from ocean-going vessels. The rule, commonly referred to as the “shore power regulation,” requires that all operators of container, passenger and refrigerated cargo vessels that visit California ports more than 25 times a year employ an emission reduction system for their fleet by Jan. 1, 2014.

“In less than two months, container ships will be plugging in at California’s ports as part of an estimated $1.8 billion industry investment in shore power,” Pacific Merchant Shipping Association Vice President Mike Jacob said. “Our members are investing billions of dollars worldwide in new ocean-going vessels outfitted with the latest technology. We’ve been retrofitting hundreds of existing ships that call on California ports and installing the necessary terminal infrastructure for the 2014 transition.”

Port of Hueneme Receives Shore Side Power Grant

 A $1.7 million grant was approved Oct. 7 by the Ventura County Transportation Commission to assist with a Port of Hueneme shoreside power project. The port’s currently installing an infrastructure system to enable ocean-going vessels to plug in at berth and operate emission-free while in port.

The funding will complete the $13.5 million project. Other funding sources include $7.2 million from the port, $4.5 million from the California Air Resources Board and $250,000 from the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District.

Over the life of the project, shore power is expected to drastically reduce vessel emissions, including achieving a 92 percent decrease in particulate matter (PM), a 98 percent reduction in nitrous oxides and a 55 percent drop in greenhouse gasses.

“The measures voted today present a win-win in terms of economic development, environmental benefit and progress that improves the quality of life for our community,” said Jason Hodge, president of the Oxnard Harbor District board, which governs the Port of Hueneme.

The system is expected to extend the useful life of existing wharves for up to 30 years, according to the port.

“The VCTC fully recognizes the importance of effective policy and sound investment in our transportation network to ensure efficient freight mobility,” Transportation Commission Executive Director Darren Kettle said. “The actions by VCTC today reinforces our commitment to leveraging the County’s position in the global economy and building a network that serves as a catalyst for economic growth.”

Long Beach Port Updating Energy Strategy

The Port of Long Beach says it is instituting a new energy policy to increase its efficiency, conservation, resiliency and renewable energy.

“When we look at our future energy demands due to shore power, zero-emissions programs and more, it’s imperative that we increase our energy security,” Harbor Commissioner Rich Dines, Chair of the Commission’s Energy Subcommittee, said. “This energy policy will guide the creation of an energy program that will improve the environment and business continuity at the port.”

The port says the energy policy was created in anticipation of increasing demand for electricity at Long Beach with air quality improvement programs such as shoreside power, which allows massive cargo ships to shut down diesel engines and plug into landside electricity while at berth.

In coming years, the port says, air quality efforts will continue to fuel demand for electricity at the port, as will the introduction of cutting-edge marine terminal equipment that runs on electricity and not diesel fuel.

“Just as our environmental initiatives have changed the way we think about construction, operations, maintenance and properties, this energy policy adds another lens we look through when making decisions as it relates to energy in the future,” port Director of Environmental Planning Rick Cameron said. “We want to be efficient and we want to be innovative, because this keeps us competitive.”

The program will also look at improving ways to keep the port operating in the event of a crisis that could impact the flow of electricity to the port.

Long Beach says it will collaborate its efforts with port tenants, utilities, other city departments, industry stakeholders, labor unions, the Port of Los Angeles and others.

POLB Invests in Electrification Efforts

The Port of Long Beach, its terminal customers and shipping lines are investing millions of dollars in new equipment to allow vessels to use clean electricity at berth and cut air pollution in advance of upcoming state deadlines, officials said May 6 during a special “Shore Power Summit.”

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners hosted the summit at the port to highlight the industry’s efforts to meet the shore power requirement. The summit brought together environmental regulators, seaport terminal operators, elected officials and utility representatives to discuss the wide array of investments and other preparations.

Long Beach says it’s completing $100 million worth of dockside power hookups, vessel operators are retrofitting older ships for shore power and building new ones, and Southern California Edison is installing a new transmission system to meet the increased power demand. The preparations are being made as California’s shore power deadline approaches: by Jan. 1, 2014, vessel operators must plug in half of all cargo container, cruise and reefer vessels and eliminate half of their emissions.

The shore power regulation came about thanks in part to the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles crafting their 2006 joint San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan. Before the state regulation was created, the ports’ CAAP established a goal to use shore power at container terminals. Several Port of Long Beach terminals are already equipped with shore power.

Shoreside power can cut air pollution from ships at berth by 95 percent when ships use such power for their power needs at berth – lights, pumps, communications and refrigeration – instead of running diesel-fueled auxiliary engines.

San Diego to Begin Work on Shoreside Power Terminal

Port of San Diego and tenant Flagship Cruises & Events have announced that construction begins this month on a $2.5 million shoreside power at a new facility to be built between Broadway and Navy piers.

The project, which is expected to be complete by mid-2012, would allow Flagship vessels to plug into on-shore electricity while docked instead of running their diesel engines.

Flagship is a luxury public and private dining tour company that has an 11-vessel fleet, including a 158-foot boat that can accommodate about 600 people. It held a private groundbreaking ceremony for the project in December.

The shore power system is expected to reduce diesel air emissions by 50 percent. When the fleet is docked, onboard diesel power supply would switch to shore-based electrical power in order to reduce air emissions from the ships’ diesel engines.

The project also consists of dock reconfiguration and construction of new boarding ramps and four slips.

“We’re investing money in projects that we believe will benefit the bay that we work on and live around,” Flagship Cruises CEO Art Engel said.

A similar shoreside power system was completed in San Diego in late 2010 and at the time was just the fifth such system to be installed globally, according to the port.