The Port of Tacoma has partnered with Port of Seattle and Port Metro Vancouver in British Columbia to reduce seaport-related air emissions in the region.
The Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy marks the first such international cooperative effort in the port community. It builds on early environmental efforts at each port, and establishes short- and long-term performance measures for reducing emissions from cargo-handling equipment, rail, harbor craft, ocean-going vessels and trucks.
One year into the strategy, results are promising. Download the 2008 implementation report (PDF, 2.67 mb).
Each of the ports, along with their customers and tenants, continues to work collaboratively with air and environmental regulatory agencies to reduce emissions through such initiatives as:
- Cargo-handling equipment -- Using ultra-low sulfur diesel, biodiesel and other cleaner-burning fuels in cargo-handling equipment.
- Ships -- Using low-sulfur distillate fuels at berth. Adding “green design” environmental features to ships, including diesel-electric motors that save up to 30 percent in fuel and significantly reduce emissions.
- Trucks -- Setting targets to turn over older, less-efficient truck engines. Learn more about our Truck Program and read the Port's Drayage Truck Fleet Study, completed December 2008.
- Rail -- Installing anti-idling devices on rail-switching engines, as well as partnering on other innovative technological advances
- Short term -- designed to establish a bar and be attainable by 2010
- Long term -- raises the bar to a “reasonably achievable” level by 2015 based on available technology, economic feasibility and regional needs
We don’t prescribe specific technologies to meet the goals, but we have listed available options that could be used.
The Port of Tacoma is focusing on activities that benefit the most people right away: cleaner fuel in cargo-handling equipment and ships at berth, as well as partnering with lessees on other environmental initiatives.
Read the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy (PDF).