Port of LA Step Closer to a Zero-Emission Goal
2016-12-19 09:50

Port of LA Step Closer to a Zero-Emission Goal

[containerships at Port of LA]Image courtesy of Port of LA

The US Port of Los Angeles has been awarded two grants to invest in environmentally friendly equipment for moving cargo at its container terminals in an effort to reduce pollution.

The first, USD 5.8 million state grant is aimed at purchasing and testing a new fleet of 25 zero and near-zero emission yard tractors at the Everport marine container terminal.

Awarded by the California Energy Commission (CEC), the grant also will fund a companion project to equip 100 more drayage trucks with smart technology aimed at reducing emissions by streamlining their time on the road and improving the flow of containers to and from the port complex, the Port of Los Angeles said.

“This grant is a major opportunity for accelerating the next-generation solutions we and our partners are working on to transition to a zero-emission port,” Gene Seroka, Port of Los Angeles’ Executive Director, said.

Over the next three years, the port and its partners plan to demonstrate the new yard equipment and smart technology and track their operational efficiency, viability, reduction of GHG emissions and other key pollutants, and fuel savings, with the results expected in 2018.

Furthermore, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Port of Los Angeles a USD 800,000 grant to deploy more of the cleanest commercial equipment available for moving cargo. The award will pay between 25 to 40 percent of the cost to replace and upgrade 18 pieces of yard equipment at two Los Angeles container terminals, with the full complement due to be in service by fall 2018, the port said.

“The EPA grant is precisely the kind of support that allows our partners to keep trading up to the greenest equipment on the market,” Seroka said.

As part of the USD 3 million project, terminal operator APM Terminals will invest more than USD 2 million to replace 16-yard tractors with new equipment powered by Tier 4 clean diesel engines. TraPac, another terminal operator, will spend USD 174,000 to repower two heavy-duty forklifts with Tier 4 engines. The project is expected to further reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and diesel particulate matter.

Being the North America’s leading seaport by container volume and cargo value, the Port of Los Angeles facilitated USD 270 billion in trade during 2015.


Source: World Maritime News (LF)

Source: World Maritime News