Doubling shore power

The Board of Port Commissioners has approved US$4.6 million in funding which will include equipment, construction and installation of shore power equipment at the port’s B Street and Broadway Pier cruise ship terminals.

“This is a good investment and it is just one of our many clean air projects on the horizon,” said Michael Zucchet, Chairman, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.

“We’re also installing a solar-powered microgrid at our Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, adding more public electric vehicle chargers on the bayfront and more. The port is committed to being a good neighbour, which includes cleaner air for everyone who lives, works and plays on and around San Diego Bay.”

Clean air

This increased capability will allow two cruise vessels calling at San Diego to connect to shore power outlets at the same time.

It will give the port the available infrastructure for nearly every cruise ship to run off electricity while in port.

Having two shore power outlets at the cruise ship terminals will result in at least a 90% overall reduction of harmful pollutants such as NOx and diesel particulate matter, as well as a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The port’s goal is to complete the shore power expansion by September 2022, four months ahead of recently updated California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations that require all cruise ships calling on California ports to use shore power beginning 1 January 2023.

San Diego first installed shore power at the cruise terminals in 2010, making it among the first ports in California.