Vancouver Port To Offer Shore Power To Cruise Ships In Effort To Cut Emissions

摘要

Vancouver in British Columbia will become Canada's first port to reduce its users' emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants by providing shore power for visiting cruise ships, British Columbia Transport Minister Kevin Falcon said. The initiative, which takes effect in the 2009 cruise ship season, is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 3,200 to 3,700 metric tons in its first year of operation and to reduce emissions of air contaminants, including particulate matter, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and ammonia, by 110 to 130 metric tons per year, Falcon said in a Dec. 17 statement. "Improving air quality will make Vancouver an even more livable city and bring us closer to our government's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by one-third [from current levels] by 2020," he said. Port Metro Vancouver said, "Shore power is a highly effective way to reduce marine diesel air emissions by enabling ships to shut down their engines and connect to [utility company] BC Hydro's electrical grid in order to provide necessary power while docked." About 60 shore-power-enabled cruise ships are expected to visit Port Metro Vancouver in 2009.