California looks to mobile port emissions capture

STAX Engineering will provide cutting-edge services to all auto carriers at berth at the Port of Benicia, marking the fourth such agreement signed by STAX in just eight weeks.

“Addressing at-berth exhaust emissions is an opportunity for many vessel owners and operators, as well as the greater Benicia port community, to be environmentally responsible,” said Vee Kachroo, chief executive officer, AMPORTS.

“We are excited to announce this partnership with STAX and offer accessible, no maintenance emissions capture and control services so that all stakeholders can bring their environmental goals within reach.”

Mobile emissions capture

The Port of Benicia is a critical point of entry for vessels from Asia, Europe and Mexico and exporting vessels bound for Asia. At the port, AMPORTS handles roughly 260,000 imported vehicles annually, about 20% of the vehicles imported by sea into California.

STAX, a grantee of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), is the only provider authorised to service both container vessels and auto carriers in California and the service is available at the Ports of Benicia, Long Beach, Los Angeles and Oakland.

NYK Line recently announced its partnership with STAX to service its auto carrier vessels at the Port of Benicia and other ports around the state.

STAX offers land and barge-based, mobile emissions capture and control technology to shipping terminal and fleet operators for a nominal hourly fee. STAX’s patented, flexible exhaust capture system is designed to fit all ships without modification, even in the most congested ports.

The exhaust is filtered once it is captured and funneled into the STAX system. STAX removes 99% of particulate matter (PM) and 95% of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) before being released as purified gas. 

“We’ve seen so much success in such a short time because our partners recognize that STAX technology makes maintaining compliance and improving local air quality accessible and straightforward,” said Mike Walker, chief executive officer, STAX.

“While our sights are set on California in the near term, we hope to expand our presence across North America and abroad as quickly as possible.”