The Port of Oakland has set a new benchmark for shore power usage in the first half of 2024, with an average of 94 per cent of container ships plugging into its electric grid.
This marks a significant improvement from 2023 when the annual average was 85 per cent. Shore power enables ships to switch off diesel engines while docked, reducing emissions to near zero.
“Shore power is the single most effective way to reduce vessel emissions when a ship is in port,” said Colleen Liang, Environmental Programmes and Planning Director at the Port of Oakland.
“We appreciate the ship owners retrofitting their vessels for shore power. We also thank the terminal operators for coordinating and providing labour to physically plug in the ships that call Oakland.”
READ: Port of Oakland witnesses 10 per cent cargo volume increase in 2024
The port hit a record plug-in rate of 99 per cent in May 2024, maintaining rates above 91 per cent since November 2023. The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners has played a pivotal role in enforcing shore power usage, even among ships not bound by regulations, contributing to improved local air quality.
Looking ahead, the port plans to introduce mobile shore power outlets, becoming the first in the US to deploy this technology.
Last December, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $10.5 million grant for the Port of Oakland under its Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle programme.