Plugging into the Future - Port of Los Angeles€¦ · Alternative Maritime Power – also known as...
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Plugging into the Future TRENDS AND BUSINESS NEWS AT THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES Alternative Maritime Power – also known as AMP™, shore power, or cold-ironing – isn’t exactly a new concept: Plugging in a ship at berth was pioneered decades ago by the U.S. Navy to reduce costs and wear and tear on engines. Today, that technology is on the cusp of a new era. Leading the way is the Port of Los Angeles, which played a pivotal role in developing international standards to make shore power more commercially viable for reducing fuel costs and dramatically cutting vessel pollution. "We now have uniform standards," said Eric Caris, the Port of L.A.’s Assistant Director of Business Development. Representing the world’s first seaport to connect a container ship to shore-based electricity, Caris was among those who spearheaded the process. "The stage is now set for everyone to benefit from this technology." Six years ago, ports, ocean carriers, and engineers took on the challenge of making shore power a feasible alternative for running lights, heating, refrigeration and other onboard systems while in port. Today, shipping lines, manufacturers, engineers and ports have a standard for high voltage shore connections systems (HVSC): ISO/IEC/IEEE 80005-1:2012. The international standard was developed by a joint working group from the world’s top standards organizations: the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The group jointly published the standard in July of this year. "The Port of Los Angeles provided a project leader, hosted meetings, got people out to look at the actual installations, and dedicated some of its best engineers to the task," said Thane Gilman, an engineer for the U.S. Coast Guard and secretariat of the ISO subcommittee that worked on the standard. "I don’t know that we could have gotten the job done without them." Fundamental challenges included developing standards for a world that does not operate on the same electrical system frequency and a global fleet that does not run on a common voltage. Other hurdles included creating design guidelines for grounding (known as "earthing" in Europe) and specifications for power demands that vary widely based on the age and type of vessel. "Cruise ships have a particularly heavy demand for electricity to support systems like air conditioning for thousands of passengers," Gilman said. The specifications and safety protocols are designed to protect lives, equipment and infrastructure, especially when connecting higher voltage and lower voltage systems. Most vessels run on 480 volts, but the newest generation of container ships entering the global fleet runs on 6,600 volts. The newest cruise ships run on 11,000 volts. "The typical house runs on 120 to 240 volts," said Gilman. "Even those levels are potentially hazardous when faults occur." In June 2004, the Port of Los Angeles and China Shipping celebrated the opening of Berth 100 at the West Basin Container Terminal, the world’s first berth equipped with shore-power capability. On that occasion, China Shipping's Xin Yang Zhou became the first ship in the world to plug-in to AMP™ at Berth 100. Two months later, the Port of Los Angeles and Yusen Terminals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of NYK Line, welcomed the NYK Atlas, the world’s first container vessel built with AMP™ capability. "YTI has partnered with the Port of Los Angeles since 2004 to advance the use of AMP technology," said Patrick Burgoyne, President of Yusen Terminals, Inc. "We applaud the active role of the Port of Los Angeles in establishing the AMP ISO standard and facilitating the reduction of at-berth vessel emissions on a global scale." The Port also has worked for years with Cavotec SA to refine AMP™ technology and develop shore power solutions for both container and cruise ships, including a versatile "AMP Mobile" application that allows for multiple vessel types to connect simultaneously at the Port’s World Cruise Center. Soon, California will be the first jurisdiction in the world to make shore power a regulatory requirement. On Jan. 1, 2014, effectively half of all container, refrigerated cargo and cruise ships that regularly call at the state’s major ports must plug in at berth and they are required to cut their total emissions while docked by 50 percent. The regulation calls for 80 percent compliance by 2020. The environmental benefits are clear. "You can modify ships to reduce pollution. But if you want to totally eliminate local engine emissions, shore power is your best option," Gilman said. The operational benefits are also clear. When ships at berth plug in, maintenance and repairs can be done on equipment not in operation, vessels conserve fuel, and the cost of running onboard systems is lower. Noise pollution from the engines is also eliminated. Presently, the Port of Los Angeles has nine berths with shore power capability – more than any other port in the world. By January 2014, that number will jump to 26 berths as the Port moves forward with plans to equip every container terminal with AMP™, said Mike Christensen, Deputy Executive Director of Development. In addition to investing in infrastructure, the Port is rewarding ocean carriers each time one of their ships equipped to plug in calls in Los Angeles under the Port’s Environmental Ship Index incentive program. "We’ll do everything we can afford to promote sustainable practices in our industry and around the world," said Christensen. “We applaud the active role of the Port of Los Angeles in establishing the AMP ISO standard and facilitating the reduction of at-berth vessel emissions on a global scale.”
Transcript of Plugging into the Future - Port of Los Angeles€¦ · Alternative Maritime Power – also known as...
Plugging into the Future
TRENDS AND BUSINESS NEWSAT THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES
Alternative Maritime Power – also known as AMP™, shore power, or cold-ironing – isn’t exactly a new concept: Plugging in a ship at berth was pioneered decades ago by the U.S. Navy to reduce costs and wear and tear on engines.
Today, that technology is on the cusp of a new era. Leading the way is the Port of Los Angeles, which played a pivotal role in developing international standards to make shore power more commercially viable for reducing fuel costs and dramatically cutting vessel pollution.
"We now have uniform standards," said Eric Caris, the Port of L.A.’s Assistant Director of Business Development. Representing the world’s first seaport to connect a container ship to shore-based electricity, Caris was among those who spearheaded the process. "The stage is now set for everyone to benefit from this technology."
Six years ago, ports, ocean carriers, and engineers took on the challenge of making shore power a feasible alternative for running lights, heating, refrigeration and other onboard systems while in port. Today, shipping lines, manufacturers, engineers and ports have a standard for high voltage shore connections systems (HVSC): ISO/IEC/IEEE 80005-1:2012.
The international standard was developed by a joint working group from the world’s top standards organizations: the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The group jointly published the standard in July of this year.
"The Port of Los Angeles provided a project leader, hosted meetings, got people out to look at the actual installations, and dedicated some of its best engineers to the task," said Thane Gilman, an engineer for the U.S. Coast Guard and secretariat of the ISO subcommittee that worked on the standard. "I don’t know that we could have gotten the job done without them."
Fundamental challenges included developing standards for a world that does not operate on the same electrical system frequency and a global fleet that does not run on a common voltage. Other hurdles included creating design guidelines for grounding (known as "earthing" in Europe) and specifications for power demands that vary widely based on the age and type of vessel.
"Cruise ships have a particularly heavy demand for electricity to support systems like air conditioning for thousands of passengers," Gilman said.
The specifications and safety protocols are designed to protect lives, equipment and infrastructure, especially when connecting higher voltage and lower voltage systems. Most vessels run on 480 volts, but the newest generation of container ships entering the global fleet runs on 6,600 volts. The newest cruise ships run on 11,000 volts.
"The typical house runs on 120 to 240 volts," said Gilman. "Even those levels are potentially hazardous when faults occur."
In June 2004, the Port of Los Angeles and China Shipping celebrated the opening of Berth 100 at the West Basin Container Terminal, the world’s first berth equipped with shore-power capability. On that occasion, China Shipping's Xin Yang Zhou became the first ship in the world to plug-in to AMP™ at Berth 100. Two months later, the Port of Los Angeles and Yusen Terminals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of NYK Line, welcomed the NYK Atlas, the world’s first container vessel built with AMP™ capability.
"YTI has partnered with the Port of Los Angeles since 2004 to advance the use of AMP technology," said Patrick Burgoyne, President of Yusen Terminals, Inc. "We applaud the active role of the Port of Los Angeles in establishing the AMP ISO standard and facilitating the reduction of at-berth vessel emissions on a global scale."
The Port also has worked for years with Cavotec SA to refine AMP™ technology and develop shore power solutions for both container and cruise ships, including a versatile "AMP Mobile" application that allows for multiple vessel types to connect simultaneously at the Port’s World Cruise Center.
Soon, California will be the first jurisdiction in the world to make shore power a regulatory requirement. On Jan. 1, 2014, effectively half of all container, refrigerated cargo and cruise ships that regularly call at the state’s major ports must plug in at berth and they are required to cut their total emissions while docked by 50 percent. The regulation calls for 80 percent compliance by 2020.
The environmental benefits are clear. "You can modify ships to reduce pollution. But if you want to totally eliminate local engine emissions, shore power is your best option," Gilman said.
The operational benefits are also clear. When ships at berth plug in, maintenance and repairs can be done on equipment not in operation, vessels conserve fuel, and the cost of running onboard systems is lower. Noise pollution from the engines is also eliminated.
Presently, the Port of Los Angeles has nine berths with shore power capability – more than any other port in the world. By January 2014, that number will jump to 26 berths as the Port moves forward with plans to equip every container terminal with AMP™, said Mike Christensen, Deputy Executive Director of Development.
In addition to investing in infrastructure, the Port is rewarding ocean carriers each time one of their ships equipped to plug in calls in Los Angeles under the Port’s Environmental Ship Index incentive program.
"We’ll do everything we can afford to promote sustainable practices in our industry and around the world," said Christensen.
“We applaud the active role of the Port of Los Angeles in establishing the AMP ISO standard and facilitating the reduction of at-berth vessel emissions on a global scale.”
