Global ocean carrier APL is undertaking an $11m project to reduce vessel emissions at the Port of Oakland, Calif. Beginning in 2010, the carrier will draw on $4.8m in air-quality grants to retrofit its marine terminals and ships, the latter of which will shut down their on-board diesel generators while in port, and hook up to shoreside electricity. Environmental interests have been pushing carriers to adopt this practice of "cold-ironing" for a number of years. According to APL, the technique will cut more than 50,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides emissions annually, along with 1,500 pounds of particulate matter, from ships berthed at Oakland. APL said it will be the "first and only" carrier or terminal operator to adopt cold-ironing at the Northern California port. The practice will become mandatory at all of the state's ports in 2014. "Diesel emissions from port operations have a serious health impact in the West Oakland community," said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. "APL is getting a head start to reduce emissions well before the state deadline." APL made the announcement at the port in tandem with the Air Quality Management District. The agency will fund two grants for the effort, including $2.8m to electrify berths at Oakland's Global Gateway Central, and $2m to equip three containerships for cold-ironing. Vessels to be retrofitted by APL are scheduled to make a total of 52 calls at Oakland annually.

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