..and BP too

Commissioners approved a two-year project, costing more than $2.5m to equip Berth T121 on Terminal Island with the electrical improvements needed for BP tankers to cold iron while offloading oil. BP, which leases the T121 oil terminal from the Port, will retrofit two tankers at a cost of $1m each so that they can plug in.

While at port, a vessel typically continues to use its engines to power refrigeration, lighting, pumping and other ship functions.

Vessels that cold iron significantly reduce at-berth diesel emissions.

“Plugging in our ships will cost us more to off-load the crude, but the increased costs are relatively small when you consider the environmental benefits from the project, ” said Tim Scruggs, BP Carson business unit leader/refinery manager.