The port of Los Angeles, the busiest container port in the US, is stepping up its ship emissions policy, said port executive director Dr. Geraldine Knatz to Reuters yesterday.
According to Knatz, the port of Los Angeles now requires all terminal operators to use clean burning diesel in their ships' auxiliary and main engines within 24 nautical miles of shore if they seek to renew their terminal lease contracts or permits for upgrading works. “We are ahead of the state for ship emissions control,” she said.
Los Angeles' state of California requires all ships to use low-sulphur diesel only in the auxiliary engines when approaching the shore.
However, some shipping lines like Maersk are already using marine diesel in both engines when approaching Californian ports. The cost of marine diesel is about double the price of high-sulphur marine fuel oil.
According to Bunkerworld data, the price of key-grade 380 centistoke bunker fuel in Los Angeles yesterday was $345.50 per metric tonne (pmt) compared to $692.50 pmt for marine diesel.
The port is also in the process of gradually hooking up ships at the berths with onshore power supply, eradicating the need for ships to burn fuel on-board, Knatz said “It's a major construction project, and we are an operating port,” she added, explaining that the conversion of all terminals with onshore power supplies for ships would take time.
According to Knatz, the port of Los Angeles now requires all terminal operators to use clean burning diesel in their ships' auxiliary and main engines within 24 nautical miles of shore if they seek to renew their terminal lease contracts or permits for upgrading works. “We are ahead of the state for ship emissions control,” she said.
Los Angeles' state of California requires all ships to use low-sulphur diesel only in the auxiliary engines when approaching the shore.
However, some shipping lines like Maersk are already using marine diesel in both engines when approaching Californian ports. The cost of marine diesel is about double the price of high-sulphur marine fuel oil.
According to Bunkerworld data, the price of key-grade 380 centistoke bunker fuel in Los Angeles yesterday was $345.50 per metric tonne (pmt) compared to $692.50 pmt for marine diesel.
The port is also in the process of gradually hooking up ships at the berths with onshore power supply, eradicating the need for ships to burn fuel on-board, Knatz said “It's a major construction project, and we are an operating port,” she added, explaining that the conversion of all terminals with onshore power supplies for ships would take time.