Port San Diego CA announced it is doubling shore power capability at its two cruise terminals (B Street and Broadway Pier) in order to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on/around San Diego Bay.
The Board of Port Commissioners approved USD 4.6 million in funding for the project and various agreements related to equipment purchasing, building and installment of additional shore power equipment that is expected to allow 2 cruise ships calling on San Diego CA to connect to shore power outlets simultaneously. This means the vessels will not have to run diesel auxiliary engines while in port.
The goal of the Port is to complete the shore power expansion by September next year, 4 months ahead of recently updated CARB (California Air Resources Board) regulations that require all cruise ships calling on ports in California to use shore power beginning January 1, 2023.
Having 2 shore power outlets at the cruise terminals will result in at least a 90% overall reduction of harmful pollutants like NOx and Diesel Particulate Matter along with a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
The Port of San Diego CA first installed shore power at the cruise ship terminals back in 2010, making it among the first California ports to have shore power available for cruise vessels and beating a state regulation to reduce diesel particulate emissions from at least 50% of cruise calls by nearly 4 years.