Massive emissions savings

This is the conclusion of a new Starcrest Consulting Group case study on fast mooring with Cavotec’s MoorMaster automated mooring system.

“These findings clearly demonstrate how MoorMaster helps ports reduce their environmental impact with the existing vessels and infrastructure,” commented Nicklas Vedin, vice president of product management, MoorMaster at Cavotec.

Free emissions tool

On Cavotec’s request, Starcrest estimated the environmental benefits of fast mooring with MoorMaster in container terminals and has developed a free tool for ports to calculate their own potential fuel savings and emission reductions from adopting automated vacuum mooring in container terminals.

The tool shows that the technology could reduce carbon emissions by up to 20,000t per year across the two San Pedro Bay ports in Southern California, and a similar amount in Port of Oakland in Northern California. In each case, the technology could also cut harmful nitrogen oxides at berth by up to 50t per year.

Vedin added: “For an average 3,500 TEU vessel, the tool shows a total carbon reduction of around nine tonnes of carbon dioxide per call with the inputs used in the case study. Multiplied by the close to 500,000 container terminal calls per year across the world means that the technology could potentially reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases by several million tonnes per year, the equivalent of emissions from one million cars.”

MoorMaster replaces conventional mooring lines with remotely operated vacuum pads that moor vessels in seconds at the touch of a button. Rapid mooring and release enable vessels to connect faster to shore power in port and reduces the use of tugs, further reducing harmful emissions.