POLB puts new ‘shore power’ to the test

The port says it will rely on regional air quality authorities to oversee a demonstration project to thoroughly assess both the safety and the pollution-reducing effectiveness of a mobile, barge-mounted emissions control system to capture and treat ship’s smokestack emissions.

Doug Drummond, president, Harbour Commission, said: “This is an incredible breakthrough, and I’m pleased that we are supporting this demonstration project. We want to become a zero-emissions port, so I look forward with particular interest to see how the AMECS technology performs.”

Developed by Advanced Cleanup technology Inc, the new Alternative Maritime Emission Control System (AMECS) could provide an alternative to shore power, allowing ships to run their engines to produce the power they need for lighting, communications, pumps and refrigeration.

The system diverts a docked ship’s emissions into an air pollution filter and treatment device.

This latest project is part of the port’s Clean Air Action Plan, which aims to find alternative technology to reduce air pollution from ships at berth.