The Canadian federal government today announced $6 million in funding for cold ironing projects at the country's ports.
"Our government is taking important measures to preserve our environment," said Minister of Transport Lawrence Cannon. "Transportation is a key element of our environmental agenda, and this technology will improve local air quality by reducing air pollution from ships in some of Canada's largest cities."
The government has called for applications from "private entities and Canada Port Authorities", including the cruise ship industry, for the funding round for equipment such as special transformers to deliver shore power to docked ships.
"Improving the quality of our air is a major priority for our government," John Baird, Minister of the Environment, said today.
The government will reimburse up to 50% of the costs of a project, to a maximum of $3 million over a three-year period and the projects have to be completed in this timeframe.
"Today's action...goes hand in hand with the tough action we are taking to clean the air for all Canadians from coast to coast through our Turning the Corner plan to reduce air pollution and clean up our environment," Minister Baird said.
The government's Marine Shore Power Program falls under its ecoTRANSPORT Strategy, which has also included federal funding for new port equipment and rail projects to reduce port emissions.
Cold ironing is already in use in US ports such as Seattle, Juneau, and Los Angeles and Long Beach where ships can plug in to shore facilities so as to be able to power down their auxiliary engines.
Port Metro Vancouver is part of the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy with Seattle and Tacoma, which includes shore power targets, and the port currently has the goal of have facilities in place for cruise ships by 2009.
The deadline for applications to Marine Shore Power Program will be August 25 and the original announcement of the scheme was in February last year.
"Our government is taking important measures to preserve our environment," said Minister of Transport Lawrence Cannon. "Transportation is a key element of our environmental agenda, and this technology will improve local air quality by reducing air pollution from ships in some of Canada's largest cities."
The government has called for applications from "private entities and Canada Port Authorities", including the cruise ship industry, for the funding round for equipment such as special transformers to deliver shore power to docked ships.
"Improving the quality of our air is a major priority for our government," John Baird, Minister of the Environment, said today.
The government will reimburse up to 50% of the costs of a project, to a maximum of $3 million over a three-year period and the projects have to be completed in this timeframe.
"Today's action...goes hand in hand with the tough action we are taking to clean the air for all Canadians from coast to coast through our Turning the Corner plan to reduce air pollution and clean up our environment," Minister Baird said.
The government's Marine Shore Power Program falls under its ecoTRANSPORT Strategy, which has also included federal funding for new port equipment and rail projects to reduce port emissions.
Cold ironing is already in use in US ports such as Seattle, Juneau, and Los Angeles and Long Beach where ships can plug in to shore facilities so as to be able to power down their auxiliary engines.
Port Metro Vancouver is part of the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy with Seattle and Tacoma, which includes shore power targets, and the port currently has the goal of have facilities in place for cruise ships by 2009.
The deadline for applications to Marine Shore Power Program will be August 25 and the original announcement of the scheme was in February last year.