Long Beach to convert RTGs from diesel to electric power

While all the Port’s ship-to-shore cranes are already electrically powered, the grant programme is for RTGs and the Port’s goal is to help the seven container terminals to convert all 85 RTGs from diesel to electrical power.

“If all RTG cranes in the Port of Long Beach are converted to electricity, it will reduce air pollution by about 350 tons a year,” said Richard Cameron, Director of Environmental Planning. “We are hoping that by providing these grants, terminals will be encouraged to make this investment. This is a cost-effective option that will have a significant air quality benefit.”

This action goes beyond the Port’s commitment in the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan, which calls for conversion of RTG cranes to use cleaner diesel-powered engines by 2014. The Port’s grant programme aims to achieve even greater air quality improvements much quicker.

The terminals will be required to provide matching funds and Port will accept grant applications from them until the end of March. The grants will be awarded competitively, based on cost effectiveness, technical approach and proposed schedule. The maximum individual award is anticipated to be US$1m.

In recent years the Port and its tenants have reduced emissions from cargo-handling terminal equipment by nearly 500 tons of pollution a year through the use of retrofit devices, more efficient engines and cleaner fuels. Through implementation of the Clean Air Action Plan, and other air programmes such as this one, the Port plans to reduce emissions from all port-related sources by at least 45% in five years.