Basic Information:
Project Name: Alternative Maritime Power (AMP)
Lead Organization: Port of Los Angeles
Contact Person: Carter Atkins
Contact Information :
email: catkins@portla.org
Address:
Phone Number: (310) 732-7649
Project Basics:
Type of Project: Ocean Going Vessels
Project Partners:
Project Timeframe:
Beginning mm/yyyy: 06/2004
Ending mm/yyyy: On-Going
Expected Project Cost:
Project Specifics:
Specific Project Goals, Motivations:
Regulatory Drivers: current/impending
Funding Sources:
Project Synopsis:
This measure focuses on reducing dwelling (hotelling) emissions from OGVs while at berth. The measure focuses on two primary approaches for reducing at-berth emissions: (1) shore-power (transferring the electrical generation needs for OGVs while at berth from onboard diesel-electric generators to the cleaner shore-side power grid, which generates power through regulated/controlled stationary sources)
Project Details:
Alternative Maritime Power™, or “AMP™,” is one-of-a-kind air quality program that focuses on reducing emissions from container vessels docked at the Port of Los Angeles. Instead of running on diesel power while at berth, AMP-equipped ships “plug in” to shore side electrical power – literally an alternative power source for oceangoing vessels. AMP technology is often referred to as “cold ironing” and has been used for naval vessels, Baltic ferries and cruise ships operating in Alaska.
On June 21, 2004, the Port of Los Angeles and China Shipping Container Line announced the grand opening of the West Basin Container Terminal at Berth 100, the first container terminal in the world to use Alternative Maritime Power. Nearly two months later on August 9, the Port welcomed the world’s first container vessel to be built with AMP specifications already in mind, shipping line NYK’s NYK Atlas. A second Port of Los Angeles container terminal, NYK's Yusen Terminal, will receive AMP wharf infrastructure in 2005.
Five other shipping lines have signed memoranda of understanding to implement AMP technology on their container vessels or at their Los Angeles terminals. The Port has also approved an AMP incentive program to help defray the customer’s cost of outfitting their first ship for shore side power. Over the next five years, the Port of LA will conduct a massive infrastructure improvement program to equip additional berths at container and cruise terminals with AMP infrastructure.
Relationships to Existing Programs:
Known or Projected Challenges, Concerns:
Lessons Learned, What Worked, etc.:
The shore-power approach is generally best suited for vessels that make multiple calls per year, require a significant demand while at berth (function of dwelling load and time at berth), and vessels that will continue to call at the same terminal for multiple years. The most common ship types that are good candidates for shore-power are large string-service containerships, cruise ships, reefer ships, and specially designed crude tankers that have diesel-electric powered pumps. Shore-power requires extensive infrastructure improvements onboard vessels that would use the system, as well as on the terminal side for supplying the appropriate level of conditioned electrical power supply. The onboard infrastructure costs are dependent on the candidate vessel’s current configuration, conduit space, and electrical panel space.