Cruise ships make regular stops in Halifax throughout most of the year, releasing a significant amount of people and pollution into the city while docked at the port. Brent Dancey, the director of marine climate action at Oceans North, highlighted the issue of smoke clouds around the port caused by the ships. Complaints about this situation have been raised by residents in Halifax and other Canadian cities like St. John’s.
The solution to this problem lies in a technology called shore power, which allows ships to connect to the local grid while docked, eliminating the need to burn fuel to generate power. This technology has the potential to reduce harmful pollutants emitted by ships, such as fine particulate matter and greenhouse gases. Implementing shore power is crucial in reducing the environmental impact of the shipping industry, which accounts for three percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
A recent research brief by Oceans North revealed that only four out of Canada’s 17 port authorities currently offer shore power facilities: Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Montreal, and Halifax. While the availability of shore power is a step in the right direction, there is still a need for more widespread adoption across Canadian ports to attract cleaner ships.
Despite the availability of shore power in Canada, ships do not always utilize this option. Factors such as the alignment of the ship with the dock, cost considerations, and lack of incentives may deter ships from plugging into shore power. However, regulations in regions like California, Europe, and China require ships to use shore power when available.
The EU is set to enforce regulations mandating ships to plug into shore power or zero-emissions technologies at major ports by 2030. In Canada, the federal government has invested in shore power installations, but there is a need for national regulations to encourage greater adoption of this technology. The future of ports worldwide is likely to involve the widespread implementation of shore power to reduce emissions and promote sustainability in the shipping industry.
