Oakland reaches shore power milestone

This summer the port and Hapag-Lloyd conducted a successful initial test with the container vessel Dallas Express. Since then, the port has completed installation of the 6,600 volt shore-based power supply, the cost of which is approximately US$70, according to Deborah Ale Flint, the port’s acting executive director. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Maritime Administration also contributed US$12.8m funding.

The total combined cost of the port’s shore power infrastructure and similar improvements by the private sector at the port is estimated to be about US$85m. Significant additional cost is being borne by the private sector to retrofit vessels so that they can plug into the shore-side system.

Hapag-Lloyd is retrofitting 15 vessels for the High Voltage Shore Connection (HVSC), using the Dallas Express as the project ship. A 40-foot container mounted at the stern of the 4,860 teu vessel contains electrical components; an extendable cable drum connects the vessel to the shore-based source. The drum automatically balances out tidal changes while the vessel is in port.