The Port of San Diego (California, USA) is a step closer to doubling shore power capability at B Street and Broadway Pier cruise terminals to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on/around San Diego Bay.
At a meeting on January 11, the Board of Port Commissioners awarded a USD 268,000 contract to Baker Electric Inc. The company, based in San Diego County, will install Port-provided electrical equipment, as well as remove, replace, and terminate medium voltage cables. The work is expected to commence in March and be ready for commissioning in August.
The project was initially funded in April when the Board approved USD 4,6 million and various agreements concerning equipment purchasing, construction, and installment of shore power equipment that will allow a couple of cruise ships visiting San Diego to connect to shore power outlets simultaneously. The liners will not have to run their diesel auxiliary engines while in port.
Having the ability to run 2 shore power outlets at the same time at the cruise terminals will allow 2 cruise ships to turn off their engines and connect to the electrical grid. This will reduce pollutants like nitrogen oxide and diesel particulate matter, as well as greenhouse gas emissions.
Currently, only one cruise ship can plug into shore power at a time.
The Port of San Diego first installed shore power at the cruise ship terminals in 2010, making it among the first in California to have shore power available for liners and beating a state regulation to reduce diesel particulate emissions from at least 50% of cruise ship calls by ~4 years. Expanding shore power at the terminals is among the Port’s clean air efforts.