Americas News
Cold Ironing Project Starts in Halifax
A cold ironing system for cruise ships is under construction at the Port of Halifax in Eastern Canada and should be operational during the 2014 season, the Halifax Port Authority (HPA) reports.
"Shore power is a highly effective way to reduce marine diesel air emissions by enabling ships to shut down their auxiliary engines and connect to the electrical grid in order to provide necessary power while docked," said Cathy McGrail, cruise development manager for the HPA.
"Once installed, shore power at the Port of Halifax will have immediate benefits by decreasing cruise ship idling and will contribute to improved air quality."
The port expects 137 cruise vessel calls this year, and vessels are typically in port for about nine hours, HPA said, and the cold ironing equipment will prevent emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter (PM) while they are at berth.
The project, first announced in January 2013, is funded with $5 million from Transport Canada and $3.5 million each from the Province of Nova Scotia and the Port of Halifax.
The Canadian government has been pushing for more shore power at many of the nation's ports, arguing that the move will reduce health hazards from ship emissions.
