Shore Power for Ocean-going Vessels

This page reviewed February 19, 2013

Overview

In December 2007, the Air Resources Board approved the "Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Auxiliary Diesel Engines Operated on Ocean-Going Vessels At-Berth in a California Port" Regulation, commonly refered to as the At-Berth Regulation. The purpose of the At-Berth Regulation is to reduce emissions from diesel auxiliary engines on container ships, passenger ships, and refrigerated-cargo ships while berthing at a California Port. The At-Berth Regulation defines a California Port as the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco, and Hueneme. The At-Berth Regulation provides vessel fleet operators visiting these ports two options to reduce at-berth emissions from auxiliary engines: 1) turn off auxiliary engines and connect the vessel to some other source of power, most likely grid-based shore power; or 2) use alternative control technique(s) that achieve equivalent emission reductions.