Side Electricity News

The global cruise industry continues to make progress as it works to achieve its goal of net-zero carbon cruising by 2050, though the need for development and deployment of sustainable marine fuels remains.The 2022 Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report from trade group Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reveals an increasing number of vessels launching over the new few years that will be able to incorporate zero-emissions propulsion when available as well as the growing investment to equip ships to plug in to shoreside electricity where available.

Sweden-based AtoB@C Shipping has ordered six energy-efficient hybrid-electric 5,350 dwt vessels from Chowgule and Company Private Limited shipyard in India.Total investment value of the six ships is approximately 70 million euros, according to AtoB@C, part of ESL Shipping. The order includes options for several additional ships.These new 1A ice class vessels are due for delivery starting from the third quarter of 2023.The design work of the ships and comprehensive model tests have been carried out together with the Dutch SMB Naval Architects.The greenhouse gas emissions…

Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest luxury cruise operator, emitted nearly 10 times more sulphur oxide (SOX) around European coasts than did all  260 million European cars in 2017,  said Transport & Environment.Royal Caribbean Cruises, the world’s second largest, is second, yet four times worse than the European car fleet, revealed a new analysis by sustainable transport group.SOX emissions form sulphate (SO4) aerosols that increase human health risks and contribute to acidification in terrestrial and aquatic environments.In absolute terms, Spain, Italy and Greece, closely followed by France and Norway, are the European countries most exposed to SOX air pollution from cruise vessels while Barcelona…

Draft mandatory regulations to make lifting appliances such as onboard cargo cranes safer are being developed by the Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE).According to a press note from International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Sub-Committee aims to finalise the draft SOLAS regulations and related guidelines covering design, construction, installation and maintenance of onboard lifting appliances and anchor handling winches.The rules are intended to help to prevent accidents and harm to operators and damage to ships, cargo, shore-based structures and subsea structures, as well as the marine environment.On fire safety matters…

The shipping industry and the European Independent fuel suppliers welcome the European Parliament’s support to incentivize the uptake of low-carbon and carbon-free alternative fuels and to remove disparities in energy taxation.On 25 October the European Parliament adopted its report on The deployment of infrastructure for alternative fuels in the EU which pointed out that taxation has a major impact on the price competitiveness of alternative fuels and underlined that a technology neutral approach should be adopted to create a level playing field.A press release from European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) noted that disparities in energy taxation for shore-side supply for ships and energy used to generate alternative fuels should be addressed.

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has released its annual Environmental Report which includes member ports' top 10 environmental priorities for 2018.Air quality has remained the top priority of the European ports since 2013. The increased interest in the relationship with local community in position four of the list is relevant as air quality has been increasingly a concern for citizens of port cities and urban areas.Climate change is becoming of high relevance for European ports. It made it in the Top 10 for the first time in 2017 and climbed to the position seven in 2018. Almost eight out of ten European ports take into consideration climate change when they develop new infrastructure projects.

First meeting of the clean maritime council who will make the plan for a zero emissions UK maritime sector was held yesterday  (15 October 2018).Minister for Maritime Nusrat Ghani opened the first meeting of the Clean Maritime Council, which will devise a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the sector to improve air quality on and around our waterways, ports and shipping lanes.The government is clear on the need for action on emissions from shipping. Air pollution is the fourth greatest threat to public health after cancer, heart disease and obesity. In 2016, domestic shipping accounted for 11% of the country’s nitrogen oxide emissions.The Council has an important role in addressing these issues…

The Transport committee of the European Parliament supported yesterday the removal of tax barriers for the uptake of shore-side electricity supply (OPS) in ports for ships at berth.The Ertug report on the deployment of infrastructure for alternative fuels in the EU which was voted by the Transport committee, pointed out that taxation has a major impact on the price competitiveness of alternative fuels and underlined that disparities in energy taxation for shore-side supply for ships should be addressed.European ports welcome the vote in the Parliament and believe that energy taxation on electricity has been a significant barrier for the uptake of shore-side electricity for ships…

Finland’s ESL Shipping, an Aspo Group company, has taken delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled bulker Viikki from the Jinling shipyard in Nanjing, China.Viikki's sister ship Haaga was delivered on August 20. The 160-meter, LNG-fueled vessel of 25,600 dwt emits over 50 percent less carbon dioxide than the previous generation of vessels.Like its sister ship Haaga, Viikki will first head from the shipyard to Japan, from where it will arrive fully laden at the Baltic Sea approximately at the end of October. The plan is that both vessels will travel to the Baltic Sea via the Northern Sea Route.This shortens the travel time by nearly three weeks compared to the route via the Panama Canal and, therefore, significantly reduces the environmental impact of the trip.

Finnish dry bulk shipping company ESL Shipping has taken delivery of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled bulk carrier named Haaga.The next-generation 25,600 dwt bulk carrier is 160 meters long and was delivered Monday to Aspo Group's ESL Shipping from Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing, China.LNG-fueled vessel generates less than 50% of the carbon dioxide emissions of the previous generation of vessels. The vessel can also be fueled by completely carbon-free biogas, once the availability of carbon-free biogas improves over time.The vessel incorporates several innovative solutions to reduce its environmental footprint by minimizing its energy consumption and emissions.

The Port of Los Angeles continues to make strides in cutting pollution from ships, trucks, trains, cargo-handling equipment and harbor craft, according to the latest annual inventory of emissions from port-related mobile sources. The Port’s 2013 Inventory of Air Emissions shows the Port has set new records with diesel particulate matter (DPM) down 80 percent, nitrogen oxides (NOx) down 57 percent and sulfur oxides (SOx) down 90 percent over eight years of aggressive clean air measures.

The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Shanghai signed a formal agreement to exchange information, technical expertise and practices to expand the use of shore power at the Port of Shanghai. The signing ceremony concluded the sixth meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. The meeting was co-directed by: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, China’s Vice Premier Wang Yang, and State Councilor Yang Jiechi. The annual conference brought the two nations together to address mutual challenges and opportunities on a wide range of bilateral…

Growth in the global economy and containerized transportation by sea in 2013 was slightly below the level of the previous year. Once again, available global slot capacity outpaced container transport volume as deliveries continue to exceed the level of scrappage, which also increased. As a consequence of the continuing overcapacity, freight rates in most trades remained under pressure or declined still further. The only positive support came from fuel prices, which have fallen slightly from the highest level of the previous year.

Cavotec co-hosted a community & business outreach event at the Port of Ystad, including a seminar on benefits of Alernative Marine Power (AMP). The event was co-hosted by Cavotec, leading power and automation conglomerate ABB, the Port of Ystad, electrical systems specialist Processkontroll Elektriska, technical consultancy Grontmij, as well as Polferries and Unity Line. Cavotec AMP systems enable ships to close down their engines while docked and to connect to shore side electricity.

Cavotec wins Alternative Maritime Power (SMP) shore power equipment orders at Port of Los Angeles (POLA). Cavotec AMP systems enable vessels to switch off their engines while docked and to connect to shore side electricity. Services such as power supply for reefer containers, lighting, heating, food preparation and cargo handling are then run directly from the port. Cavotec will supply a large number of "Easy Lift" Access Covers and Shore Power Outlet Connection boxes for four separate container terminals at the Port. These orders include equipment for POLA berths 228, 401-406, 100-102, 121-128 and 212-216. Cavotec's innovative "Easy Lift" Access Covers are safer for personnel to operate than many existing alternatives.

An AMP (Alternative Marine Power) application installed in the south of Sweden port by Cavotec for 'Cold Ironing'. Cavotec claim this to be the largest high-voltage shore connection system in the world. Concern over air quality in harbours has led to growing pressure on port operators to reduce carbon and nitrogen dioxide emissions. Alternative Maritime Power (AMP) is a cold ironing system which allows ships to turn off their engines when in port, and plug into shore-side electricity supply, thus helping to bring cleaner air to ports and surrounding communities.

The Cavotec AMP equipment being supplied under these contracts includes shore power systems built into the quayside that enable ships to connect to grid-generated electrical power safely, quickly and easily. These units will also incorporate Cavotec's innovative spring-assisted One-Hand-Lift Access Covers. "Cavotec's One-Hand-Lift Access Covers are safer than many alternatives that are currently available. Conventional systems include covers with very heavy lift weights, while Cavotec's innovative system helps to avoid operator stress and injury by reducing these lift weights to a minimum," explains Rob Thompson, Cavotec USA Inc. West Coast Manager.

The world's first Onshore Power Supply (OPS) facility with automatic synchronization and 50/60 Hz conversion has been formally activated by Flemish Minister-President Kris Peeters in the presence of leading government and Port of Antwerp officials. It typically powers a docked container vessel for approximately three days within any one week, allowing its auxiliary diesel generators to be disconnected and so significantly reduce attendant noise and noxious NOx, SOx and CO2 emissions…

The European Commission welcomes today's positive second-reading vote by the European Parliament on a new marine fuel Directive. With this vote, the EU has finalised important legislation to cut sulphur dioxide (SO2) and particle emissions from seagoing ships. SO2 is an air pollutant which acidifies lake and forest ecosystems and harms human health. Particles can cause serious breathing problems and premature death. Ships have become the single biggest source of SO2 in the EU because the maritime sector has lagged behind land-based industry in environmental improvement. Today’s agreement will reduce ship SO2 in the EU by over 500,000 tonnes a year from 2006.