MARINE ENVIRONMENT
Cold Ironing
Clean, Easy, Cost Efficient, and Nothing to Do with Shirts
Alternative Maritime Power (AMP) promises an end to polluted, noisy ports. This technology, also known as cold ironing, involves ships turning off their generators when in port and plugging into shore-side electricity supply. The two largest ports in the U.S., Los Angeles and Long Beach, where cold ironing has already been introduced, have seen dramatic improvements in air quality, enhancing the health of port employees and those living in surrounding areas. "Each ship using AMP saves around one ton of pollutants per day, giving significant air quality savings for the port area," says Theresa Adams Lopez, director of media relations at the Port of Los Angeles. AMP technologies represent a fundamental change in the way ports and shipping impact the environment. Cold ironing is a reference to how ships cool when crews shut down engines and plug into shore-supplied electricity. Ships having lost power are referred to as "cold irons." Striking a balance between economic demands and concerns over the environment is one of the greatest challenges currently facing port operators and shipping companies. With record numbers of cruise ships and containerships on order, this issue is likely to become increasingly acute. One area where the shipping industry can reduce pollution effectively is in ports where moored vessels run their auxiliary generators around the clock. Ships require power while docked to run substantial onboard needs from lighting, telecom and cooking to mooring and cargo handling. The result is that on-board generators churn out millions of tons of diesel fumes. Less Fuel, Cleaner Ports Fuel used by ships tends to produce high levels of carbon, sulphuric and nitrogen oxides. Both nitrogen oxides
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(NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SOx) contribute to the acidification of lakes, rivers and forests. If no action is taken to combat these pollutants, the European Commission (EC) estimates that NOx and SOx emissions from vessels operating in the European Union (EU) will exceed land-based emissions by 2020. According to EC research, switching to shore-side electricity can cut carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions by more than 50% and carbon oxide emissions by 99% - far superior to reductions possible with the use of alternative fuels. Cold ironing also eliminates vibrations and noise from auxiliary engines, measured at 90 - 120 decibels in some port areas. The Lawyers Are Coming In an example of legal requirements that could be replicated by other countries and international agencies and industry, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently approved new rules designed to limit emissions from diesel engines operated by deep-sea vessels while in California state waters. The California state government is now reportedly in moves to launch legal proceedings against the United States
federal government over the lack of national limits on ship-generated emissions. CARB has also suggested changes to existing regulations that would see all ocean-going vessels required to switch off auxiliary diesel engines after one hour of berthing in Californian ports. Stricter requirements for European ports also look increasingly likely. The EU has repeatedly encouraged the use of shore-to-ship electricity systems by developing guidelines and considering financial incentives for ports using AMP. The 27-member bloc is currently discussing how to tie criteria for financial support, or make use of marketbased incentives to promote lower emissions. From January 1, 2010, ships at berth and inland vessels must start to use fuel with sulfur content of below 0.1 percent or adopt AMP. Low Risk Revolution While many see the advantages of cold ironing as genuinely ground breaking, the technique is already tried and tested. Naval vessels, often in port for extended periods, have made use of the technique for many years. The Cavotec Group, for one, has developed a number
of emission-reducing products. The port of Gothenburg, on the west coast of Sweden, converted a ferry terminal to shore-side power supply with Cavotec systems in 1989. Pohang Iron and Steel Company in California established cold ironing systems two years later, and five cruise ships were converted to shoreside operation in Juneau, Alaska, in 2002. Cavotec is working closely with port authorities, maritime companies and ship designers and builders to develop a wide range of AMP systems, including shore-based and ship-based applications. Today, Cavotec AMP systems are installed or being installed on more than 100 vessels. Currently, 14% of newbuild containerships over 5,000 TEU delivered since 2005, or set for delivery by 2009, have shore-to-ship equipment onboard. Cavotec is also researching cold ironing applications for ferries, RoRo ships, gas carriers and diesel-electric tankers. Options Available Now In a bid to meet growing pressure on air quality, the port of Los Angeles unveiled the world's first electrified container port in June 2004.
Maritime Reporter & Engineering News