Oakland to tackle emissions with shore power

The high voltage 200-foot mobile cable-on-reel system has been commissioned to connect to ships that can’t closely align with landside electrical vaults at berth.

“We’re continually working to reduce emissions,” said Chris Chan, the port’s director of engineering. “This is a way to build on our success and extend our reach.”

Mobile platform connects ships

Deployed by Oakland International Container Terminal, the cable systems’ 10-foot-tall reel is affixed to a trailer.

The mobile platform can be deployed alongside any vessel, allowing a cable to connect ships to one of the marine terminal’s 18 shorepower electrical vaults.

When the ships plug into the vaults, they can switch off onboard diesel engines and rely on grid power.

The port said its engineers have overseen two successful trials of the mobile cable system, which it expects to be deployed full-time by autumn.

Emissions reduction programme

Ports in California must adhere to the California Clean Air Act and the USD$230,000 development is anticipated to help accelerate the port’s emissions programme.

The programme is believed to have helped cut emissions by 76% in Oakland since 2009.

Last month, an investigation into whether the port was sufficiently tackling harmful diesel fumes was launched by the US Department of Transportation and the US Environmental Protection Agency.

The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) has recently installed a cruise shore power facility which will allow vessels to plug in to electric power while at berth and switch off their engines cutting diesel fumes.