Plugging into Clean

The Cruise Ship Terminal at Canada Place welcomes upwards of 900,000 passengers and is visited by approximately 250 cruise ships each year. The terminal is owned and operated by Port Metro Vancouver, Canada's largest and busiest port and a major economic force that strengthens the Canadian economy. Port Metro Vancouver is committed to long-term sustainability and has implemented several initiatives designed to integrate environmental, social and economic sustainability considerations into all operations. Canada Place Shore Power is one of many emission reduction measures already put into practice at the port.

In late 2009, Port Metro Vancouver implemented shore power for cruise ships at Canada Place. The main objective of the project is to reduce marine diesel air emissions by enabling cruise ships to shut down their engines and connect to BC Hydro's electrical grid while at dock. By allowing ships to shut down their engines while in port, the ships are significantly reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), which contribute to climate change, and Criteria Air Contaminants (CACs), which impact air quality.

The shore power system offers multiple benefits. In addition to reducing fuel costs and emissions, shore power also reduces the noise associated with operation of ship engines. There is also the potential to recover investment costs over time through operational and fuel cost savings.

The port, cruise lines and the public will share the health, environmental and economic benefits from this creative solution. "The Canada Place Shore Power project will have a significant impact on the reduction of GHG emissions in the Lower Fraser Valley air shed," says Barry McCormack, P.Eng., Lead Project Engineer for Port Metro Vancouver.

To create the shore power system, Princess Cruises and the Holland America Line outfitted their ships with custom-built electrical equipment to connect the ships' electrical networks to BC Hydro's power grid. The electrical power is then transmitted from the landside transformer to the vessel through four 87 millimeter diameter flexible electrical cables. The cable connection on the vessel resembles that of a traditional electrical socket, only on a much larger scale. Shore power connections are available at both the East and West berths.

The Canada Place Shore Power project was completed towards the end of the 2009 cruise season which allowed 11 shore power connections to be made that year. As 2010 represented the first full cruise ship season with shore power, the number of connections made increased to 44. Since 2009 the total number of connections has resulted in reduced emissions equivalent to taking 1,000 cars off the road for a year.

The port is the first in Canada to install shore power for cruise ships, and only the third in the world to do so. Leading by example, McCormack feels that they are setting the bar higher for other cruise lines and ports to engage in the process. "Now that we've done this project, people are going to expect that shore power be available at other facilities."

The successful implementation of this project demonstrated a unique approach to collaboration, and leveraged investments and experience from industry, government and the port to achieve the best possible result. The $9 million Canada Place Shore Power project was developed as the result of a cooperative initiative between the Government of Canada, the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, BC Hydro and Port Metro Vancouver.

McCormack believes the shore power project is an excellent example of creative engineering solutions that are improving the world we live in today. "The City of Vancouver and surrounding community will benefit greatly from this environmental innovation."

For contributing to improving public health, the environment and the economy, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (APEGBC) presented the 2010 Environmental Award in the category of Concept and Assessment to Port Metro Vancouver for Canada Place Shore Power. The Environmental Awards recognize APEGBC members and their firms for outstanding contributions towards environmental protection and/or sustainable development.

Contact:
Dale Romanko, Marketing Specialist
dale@pattonandcooke.com