(Photo: Port of Oakland. Credit: Bill Abbott, Flickr Creative Commons)The Port of Oakland reported recently that diesel particulate emissions from maritime operations were down 81% since 2005 even as cargo volume grew. Port officials credit the lower emissions to a series of developments that include requiring ships to plug into land-side power while at berth.
Environmental consultancy Ramboll outlined the improvement in a 100-page emissions inventory of 2017 port activity. The report showed that diesel emissions have plummeted since 2005 despite a 6% cargo volume increase, according to the port.
Reasons for the drop include a port program purging older, exhaust-heavy big rigs from the truck fleet that hauls containers as well as regulations that require container ships to use cleaner-burning low-sulfur fuel, switch off engines and plug into land-side power at the port.
Fewer vessel and trucks visited the port. “Ramboll reported that vessel traffic in Oakland has declined 15% since 2005, even though cargo volume is up,” according to the Port of Oakland. “That’s the result of cost-conscious ocean carriers loading more containers onto fewer but larger ships.”
Truck traffic was also down by more than 500,000 trips a year, Ramboll found. The consultancy attributed that to efficiency improvements such as night gates and appointment systems that make it easier for harbor drivers to transact business, the port update says.
The Port of Oakland, which oversees the Oakland Seaport, Oakland International Airport, and nearly 20 miles of waterfront, set a 2020 goal of reducing emissions 85% from 2005 levels. “With cooperation from our partners in the cargo-moving business we firmly believe we’ll fulfill our commitment to cleaner air in Oakland and in our region,” said Richard Sinkoff, Port of Oakland’s environmental programs and planning director.
In July, 78% of the ships visiting the port cut their engines and plugged into landside electrical power, making that the highest plug-in rate ever recorded for the Port of Oakland. State regulations require shipping container lines that frequently visit California ports to plug in at least 70% of their vessels. In 2020, the percentage will increase to 80%.
This year there was a dramatic reduction in maritime-related air pollutant emissions in Puget Sound. An inventory tracking emissions in every sector from 2005 and 2016 showed that air pollutant emissions decreased by up to 97%, depending on the type.
Officials for the Port of Seattle pointed to wide-ranging emission reduction strategies including more efficient ship designs, stricter emissions standards, and incentives for ships to burn cleaner fuel while at berth.
