First cold-ironing birth at Port of Oakland

The 900-foot APL Singapore became the first vessel to ever shut down its engines to eliminate exhaust emissions while docked at the Port of Oakland after berthing at APL’s Global Gateway Central terminal.

By turning off its auxiliary diesel engines and switching to landside electrical power, APL Singapore officially launched an APL program to cold-iron five vessels this year in the Transpacific Trade between Asia and the U.S.

APL expects cold-ironing to eradicate 50,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides emissions from its ships annually in Oakland. Emissions of particulate matter should drop by 1,500 pounds a year.

APL has spent $11 million to retrofit the five container vessels and re-wire its terminal for cold-ironing. It was awarded $4.8 million in California Air Resources Board grants by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to complete the project.

Since its inception in 2007, CRT has grown to include leading importers, exporters, trucking companies and ocean carriers who represent the largest and most progressive customers and service providers at our nation’s ports. Through the CRT Clean Truck Initiative, the private sector members of CRT are working in partnership with America’s ports to establish industry-supported clean air programs that are both environmentally and economically sustainable.