Puget Sound Maritime Air Forum partners have implemented a number of air pollution prevention projects and programs. They are also exploring innovative pilot projects to test new technologies. The following is just a sampling of projects currently underway or planned.
Ocean-going vessels (includes cargo and cruise ships, tankers, etc.)
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NorthWest CruiseShip Association use of low sulfur fuel – In 2002 Celebrity Cruise Line introduced ships with gas turbine engines; on Nov. 14, 2003 the member lines of the NorthWest CruiseShip Association (NWCA) committed to procure and use low sulfur fuel while in Washington, British Columbia and Alaska waters. During the 2005 cruise season the average sulfur content of fuel procured in Seattle was approximately 1.6 percent. NWCA member lines will continue to procure and burn low sulfur fuel while operating in the Pacific Northwest.
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Cruise vessel seawater scrubber study - The Holland America Line's MS Zaandam, which home ports in Vancouver, B.C., will test seawater scrubbing equipment to demonstrate the feasibility of using this technology to reduce emissions from large ocean-going vessels. This study is a collaborative effort made possible with the generous assistance of a grant from the EPA/West Coast Diesel Collaborative and contributions from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and the Port of Seattle. Other funding partners in the study include: BP, Environment Canada, B.C. Ministry of the Environment, B.C. Clean Air Research Fund, and the Vancouver-Fraser Port Authority (Canada).
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Cruise vessel shore power project - Most Princess Cruises and Holland America
Line cruise ships home ported in Seattle now turn off their engines and “plug in” while
calling to the Terminal 30 Cruise Facility, effectively reducing emissions
to zero while at the dock. Princess Cruises and Holland America Line have
each built shore side electrical infrastructure on the terminal and retrofitted
vessels to be shore power compatible. Juneau, Alaska is the only other cruise
port in the world that offers shore power to cruise ships. Princess Cruises
and Holland America Line partnered with the Port of Seattle, Puget Sound
Clean Air Agency, EPA and Seattle City Light to implement these cutting-edge
projects.
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Shore power provided at Terminal 91 - At Port of Seattle’s Terminal 91,
shore power is provided to the various vessel types that berth there, such
as the large commercial fishing vessels that process fish in Alaska and make
return trips to the area. Additionally, when the cruise terminal moves from
its current location at Terminal 30 up to Terminal 91, the dock-side shore
power infrastructure will be moved as well to accommodate the cruise ships
when they are at dock.
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Fuel water emulsion system – Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Pearl is
equipped with a fuel water emulsion system which is designed to reduce the
amount of NOx by as much as 20 percent.
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American President Lines has committed to burning lower sulfur fuels in
their vessel’s auxiliary engines while at dock. This change should cut emissions of toxic diesel particles from APL ships while in port by roughly 3.5 tons a year — a
75 percent reduction. While in Seattle, the ships will burn roughly 250,000
gallons of the cleaner fuel in a year.
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“K” Line has committed to burning lower sulfur fuels in their vessel’s
auxiliary engines while at dock.
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Totem Ocean Trailer Express Terminal uses redesigned RoRo vessels that are powered by diesel-electric motors in series achieving a 30-percent fuel saving and significant emission reductions.
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Evergreen goes ‘green’. The first of Evergreen’s “green” ships is now calling
in Tacoma. In addition to numerous other environmentally friendly design
features, the vessels produce less diesel emissions.
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Maersk Line using slide fuel valves. In cooperation with the engine manufacturer
MAN B&W, Maersk uses a slide fuel injection valve which cuts particulate
matter (PM) and NOx emissions by over 25 percent. Other recent initiatives
include the adoption of common rail technology and electronically controlled
engines which further reduce NOx emissions through optimal combustion. Maersk
is continuing to test ways of reducing NOx emissions with initiatives such
as catalytic converters.
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Orient Overseas Container Line’s (OOCL) newbuilding vessels are installed
with environmentally-friendly propulsive engines and auxiliary engines, certified
for nitrogen oxide-control (NOx). These engines are also equipped with certified
advanced slide fuel injection valves to reduce NOx emissions.
Cargo-handling equipment (includes cranes, straddle carriers, forklifts, etc.)
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Port of Seattle purchased 169 diesel oxidation catalysts
to retrofit cargo handling equipment. This represents all eligible
cargo-handling equipment that is operated on all Port of Seattle container
terminals.
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In 2005, the Port of Tacoma purchased and installed diesel oxidation
catalysts on 30 straddle carriers (“strads”). The Port
of Tacoma received a $75,000 EPA grant to help fund this project. The
catalysts reduced per-vehicle particulate emissions by at least 20
percent – from 0.143 tons per year to less than 0.114 tons
per year. Per-vehicle NOx emissions, meanwhile, were reduced from
4.71 tons per year to less than 2.35 tons per year.
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The Evergreen Group, the leaseholder at Pierce County Terminal,
purchased lighter straddle carriers that use 30 percent less fuel,
and equipped new Tier 2, fuel efficient onroad engines for the entire
new cargo handling equipment fleet. This voluntary action conserves
energy and reduces both the greenhouse gases and diesel exhaust emission
by 30 percent. Evergreen was also the first leased terminal operator
to mandate the on-terminal use of ULSD.
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SSA and APLswitched their operations from high
sulfur off-road diesel fuel to a 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent
low sulfur diesel blend at the Port of Seattle.
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Since March 2006, Husky Terminal & Stevedoring has
been using biodiesel fuel for all diesel-operated vehicles and container
handling equipment. Husky uses a blend of 50-percent biodiesel, 50-percent
ultra-low sulfur diesel during warmer months, and B20 during colder
months.
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MTC switched their operations to ultra-low sulfur diesel
fuel.
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APM Terminals in Pierce County is using low-emission “onroad” diesel
engines in 55-percent of its yard tractor fleet.
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The Port of Everett has more than 20 percent
of its cargo handling equipment (14 of 62 pieces) on non-diesel fuels,
including six electric fork lifts, five propane fork lifts, and three
gasoline fork lifts
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Of the Port of Tacoma’s 54 forklifts, 22 are powered
by propane.
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Washington United Terminal has been using ultra-low sulfur
diesel for all terminal operations at the Port of Tacoma since December
2006.
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The Port of Everett has specified the
use of an electric rail mounted gantry crane for cargo at the Rail/Barge
Transfer facility, instead of a diesel-powered crane. Two electric
gantry cranes currently operate on Pacific Terminal.
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In 2006, the Port of Everettpurchased
two electric Linde Reach Stackers for use in the Terminals.
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The Maintenance Department staff at Port of Everett is conducting
a biodiesel test project to determine its operating efficacy for strads
and other Port-operated equipment. The use of biodiesel has potential
to further lower SOx and diesel particulate matter emissions.
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Grain terminal operator TEMCO has implemented a successful
anti-idling operational policy that conserves energy and reduces both
greenhouse gases and diesel exhaust emissions by a total of 35 percent.
Harbor vessels (tugboats, ferries, recreational vessels, etc)
Rail
Tacoma Rail:
- Since July 2006, ultra-low sulfur diesel
has been used in the locomotives for switching operations
at the Port of Tacoma. In the port sector, D5000 use in
switching operation is the norm; this practice eliminates
99.7 percent sulfur oxides emission from the yard switching
operations.
- Tacoma Rail received a total of $100,000 from the Olympic
Region Clean Air Agency, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency,
and the Washington Department of Ecology, and matched
that with $100,000, to retrofit four of its locomotives
with technology that will reduce emissions. The anti-idling
system will protect the engines in cold weather and also
improve air quality, save fuel that locomotives use at
about three to four gallons an hour at idle, and reduce
engine noise.
BNSF Railway:
- BNSF is reducing emissions on locomotives by:
- installing idle control mechanisms on switch engines including
auxiliary power units (APU), diesel-driven heating system (DDHS),
and automatic start-stop technology on locomotives. o implementing
the idling reduction program on locomotives. o increasing the
number of cleaner-burning locomotives.
- implementing a locomotive
visible emissions-reduction program. o reducing train resistance
(drag) through low torque bearings.
- adjusting train speeds
- implementing the wheel/rail lubrication (especially on
curved track and turnouts) to reduce friction and aerodynamic
drag –(Rail lubrication extends rail and wheel
life and increases fuel efficiency)
- BNSF is also reducing emissions at Intermodal yards by:
- improvement in lift efficiencies at intermodal yards
through electrification of lift equipment and improved traffic
flows;
- implementing RFID (radio frequency identification)
system at intermodal yards to increase productivity/efficiency
by reducing queue times for trucks;
- initiating cargo handling
equipment diesel emissions reduction program; and
- planning
implementation of CARB/EPA verified diesel retrofit technologies.
- BNSF GenSet Switchers- BNSF has acquired new three Genset
locomotives, which are powered by three truck diesel engines.
These locomotives are currently providing services in BNSF switch
yards.
- BNSF is also working with major locomotive manufacturers
to develop a hybrid high horsepower locomotive that would
capture and reuse the regenerative braking energy for traction.
- BNSF performs routine stack opacity tests on locomotives
to ensure engines are in good operating condition. The program
helps reduce visible emissions and helps improve air quality
and locomotive efficiency.
Fleet vehicles
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Port of Seattle switched to a 99% biodiesel – ULSD fuel blend
for its Seaport Maintenance fleet.
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The Port of Everett purchased and took delivery, in 2006, of an
electric vehicle for use by the Harbor Attendant in marina
operations, replacing a fossil-fuel vehicle. The Global Electric
vehicle is ideally suited for slow-speed, stop-and-go-type travel.
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Port of Seattle encourages cleaner vehicle purchases and has initiated
an automobile purchase policy to replace retiring Port-owned vehicles
with new gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, where practical. These
hybrid vehicles travel approximately 50 miles per gallon of regular
unleaded gasoline. Today, the Port owns several hybrid vehicles.
- Port of Seattle installed Stage II Vapor Recovery Equipment, though
not required, at the Seaport Maintenance refueling station.
Freight mobility/efficiencies
Port of Seattle
- Initiated a radio-frequency identification (RFID) pilot project with
SSA to equip 1,200-1,500 trucks with RFID tags and Terminal 18 with
RFID readers, which will reduce wait times at gates and improve terminal
efficiency.
- Terminal operators have initiated cargo-handling equipment fleet
modernization programs and are encouraged to purchase equipment that
meets 2007 standards for heavy-duty onroad diesel engines.
- Redeveloped Seaport cargo terminals to increase efficiency, including
improving nearby road networks.
- Coordinated draw bridge openings with truckers so they can route
accordingly to minimize idling.
- Piloted computer tracking systems at cargo terminals to quickly locate
containers and thus reduce truck wait times.
- Provided electric plug-ins instead of diesel units for refrigerated
containers on the docks.
- Purchased bigger cranes to load and unload more efficiently, so ships
are at the dock for less time.
- Partnered in a regional anti-idling effort.
Port of Tacoma
- Totem Ocean Trailer Express Terminal at Port of Tacoma implements
the “Paperless Gate” that uses RFID technology to reduce
truck gate congestion.
- APM Terminals extended gate hours to minimize pre-gate idling
and implemented web-based truck booking technology to reduce truck
congestion at gates. APM also switched to ULSD for on-terminal equipment.
Other innovative projects or pilots in the maritime industry
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BNSF Railway
Uses "Green Goat®," an environmentally-friendly
hybrid switch engine, which has been in service for several years in the
Los Angeles area. The cabless Green Goat® units are
planned for use in Texas. The Green Goat® uses a relatively small,
clean, and efficient diesel genset in conjunction with over 300 batteries
to improve fuel economy and reduce pollution. Remanufactured from existing
switcher locomotives, the Green Goat can reduce oxides of nitrogen
(NOx) and particulates while reducing greenhouse gases and diesel fuel
consumption when compared to conventional yard switchers.
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BNSF’s Los Angeles Junction Railroad utilizes the four existing
liquefied natural gas (LNG) locomotives in the nation servicing industry
in the LA basin. The Green Goat® and LNG locomotives are part of BNSF’s
commitment to improving air quality across its system. The railway
also is acquiring new locomotives and retiring older and less efficient
ones. Between 1996 and 2004, BNSF acquired over 2000 cleaner- burning
and fuel-efficient locomotives.
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BNSF is currently researching Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) and
fuel cell technology on locomotives- which involves development and
demonstration of a prototype fuel cell hybrid switcher locomotive. The
vehicle integration will take place at BNSF Topeka shop.
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Foss Maritime announced plans to build the first hybrid tug.
In addition to lower fuel consumption, it is estimated that emissions
of particulate matter (PM) and NOx will be reduced by 40 percent. Plans
are for the tug to be operational at the Ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach
in 2008.
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OOCL subsidiary Terminal Systems Inc. is joining with Railpower
Technologies Corp. to test three hybrid Rubber Tired Gantry cranes at
its terminal in the Port of Vancouver, BC. Long Beach Container Terminal,
the OOCL subsidiary in Long Beach, announced plans last month for development
and testing of hybrid yard tractors there.
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Fuel Emulsification: The world’s eighth-largest container
carrier, APL said it has teamed with the California Air Resources
Board (CARB), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the ports
of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and four California air quality management
boards, to test innovative fuel emulsification technology that could
reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides from vessels by as much as 20 percent
and become a shipping industry standard.
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Flywheel Technology for Port Cranes: Vycon Company sold
its first six units for testing for $150,000 each to the Long Beach
Container Terminal in December. One is being used at the ITS Terminal
at the same port, and another machine is being tested at Evergreen
Marine's Seaside Transportation Services terminal at the neighboring
Port of Los Angeles. The flywheel system collects energy as cargo containers
are lowered and then releases it as containers are lifted. That reduces
the power the diesel engine has to supply, cutting fuel consumption
and the release of pollutants.
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