Pacific Merchant Shipping Association Members Investing Billions in the Latest Technologies
PMSA members are investing billions of dollars in the laatest technologies to stay well above federal and international environmental standards.
As one great example, APL, a shipping line that serves California and Washington ports, became the first to shut down, or "cold iron," a vessel's engines to eliminate exhaust emissions at the Port of Oakland. On May 27, 2011 the 900-foot APL Singapore, one of five retrofitted ships, was the first ship to switch off its auxiliary diesel engines at the port, eliminating approximately 1,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides, 165 pounds of sulfur oxides, and 30 pounds of particulate matter from the air in a 24-hour port call. Annually, APL expects to eradicate 50,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides and 1,500 pounds of particulate matter from the air in Oakland.
PSMA Member Spotlights is a great place to get up to date on all environmental actions and activities of PMSA members.
California Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program
Proposition 1B: The $1 billion Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program is a partnership between the State Air Resources Board (ARB) and local agencies (like air districts and seaports) to quickly reduce air pollution emissions and health risk from freight movement along California's trade corridors. Local agencies apply to ARB for funding, then those agencies offer financial incentives to owners of equipment used in freight movement to upgrade to cleaner technologies. Projects funded under this Program must achieve early or extra emission reductions not otherwise required by law or regulation. Here is the December 2009 Semi-Annual Project Update Report.
From Spring 2010 bond sales, the Board awarded $200 million for new projects to 6 local agencies at its public hearing on June 24, 2010. The Board also approved tentative allocations for up to $275 million for a third cycle of funding, and will consider the final awards at a Spring 2011 public hearing, contingent on Spring bond sales. ARB Staff is deferring the start of new Heavy Duty Diesel Truck grant agreements until early Fall 2010 to ensure they reflect any proposed changes to ARB’s Truck and Bus Regulation.
The California EPA/Air Resources Board has a whole section of its web site devoted to ports. It summarizes the programs related to reducing emissions from port-related sources, such as commercial marine vessels (ocean-going ships and commercial harbor craft) and cargo handling equipment.
Oakland-Stockton-Sacramento Marine Highway Project
The project initiates a container barge service between the three ports as an alternative to existing truck and rail infrastructure. The ports expect the service to be used primarily for consumer goods and agricultural products grown in Central California and Northern California. It has received $30 million from TIGER l funds.
