Plugging in an electric car is very well and environmentally good, but what about the emissions reductions of connecting a large yacht or even an entire cruise ship to the grid? Currently, ships must burn fuel to maintain onboard systems, even at port. Linking just one cruise ship at port to the electricity grid could prevent the equivalent CO2 emissions of 2,500 cars. [Infographic]
Over 90 percent of the world’s cargo is transported by ship. It’s no surprise then that thousands of cargo ships, cruise ships and private yachts arrive at ports every day. Once in port, these vessels burn fossil fuels to maintain essential operations or onboard services to their passengers. That’s a little bit like having to leave your car’s engine on, even when you’re parked in the driveway. During a 10-hour stay in port, the diesel engines of a single cruise ship can burn 20 metric tons of fuel and produce 60 metric tons of CO2. Carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particles and other in-port shipping emissions pose a suite of environmental problems and respiratory health risks.
One solution to this business as usual scenario is to connect vessels at port directly to the power grid using shore-to-ship technology. ABB, a global power and automation company that provides shore-to-ship technology, helps the shipping industry to improve local harbor environments, prevent global carbon emissions and reduce costs. Ships adopting this technology will be able to leave the lights on without leaving the engine on.
View ABB’s infographic comparing shore-to-ship technology to business as usual.
Article by Gavin Hudson, appearing courtesy Earth & Industry.
Full disclosure: In addition to blogging, I also work at ABB. The opinions in this article are mine and don’t necessarily represent ABB.
