The Canadian Government and Port Metro Vancouver have agreed to provide $12m in funding for the installation of shore power facilities for container vessels at the port’s two container terminals.
The installation of shore power facilities at the container terminals will allow vessels to draw power from the local electrical grid, enabling them to turn-off their diesel engines while in port.
The project is expected to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions at Port Metro Vancouver container terminals and contribute to Canada’s emissions reduction targets, as well as easing the impacts of growing Canadian trade on communities by reducing generator noise.
Port Metro Vancouver president and chief executive officer Robin Silvester said: “Port Metro Vancouver is mandated to facilitate Canada’s trade while protecting the environment and supporting communities.
“The installation of shore power at container terminals in Vancouver and Delta represents another positive step in ongoing work to reduce marine shipping emissions, work that has resulted in significant improvements in Metro Vancouver air quality.
“The installation of shore power at container terminals in Vancouver and Delta represents another positive step in ongoing work to reduce marine shipping emissions.”
“We are very proud of the collaboration between the Government of Canada, Port Metro Vancouver, BC Hydro, DP World and Global Container Terminals to bring shore power facilities for container ships to our port.”
Transport Canada’s Shore Power Technology for Ports Program will grant $6m funding and the remaining $6m will be provided by Port Metro Vancouver.
Around $4.97m will be used to install shore power technology at a berth at Global Container Terminal’s Deltaport terminal, while $7.3m will be used to install shore power technology at a berth at DP World Vancouver’s Centerm Container terminal.
The funding will also be used to deliver necessary upgrades on nearby BC Hydro property.
Both shore power operations are expected to be operational by 31 March 2017, with each ship connection to shore power estimated to avoid greenhouse gas emissions of 75t.
Since 2009, Port Metro Vancouver has avoided more than 11,000t of greenhouse gas emissions with the use of shore power for cruise ships.
