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Shipping firm APL, the world’s fourth-largest container carrier, has today announced that it has completed the retrofit of five vessels for cold ironing.

The clean air practice, which involves switching off a vessel’s diesel generators in order to use cleaner, shore-based electrical power, will be introduced next winter at APL’s marine terminal in Oakland, California. APL will become the first and only carrier or terminal operator at the Port of Oakland to cold iron ships.

By shutting down shipboard generators in Oakland, APL expects to eliminate 50,000 pounds of nitrogen oxide emissions annually. The carrier also expects to eliminate 1,500 pounds of particulate matter emissions per year.

“We are committed to reducing the impact of global trade on the environment,” said APL Americas President Gene Seroka. “Equipping our vessels for cold-ironing is tangible evidence that we are advancing on the goal.”

APL has been equipping its C-11 class vessels with cold ironing capabilities throughout 2010. The last of the five ships returned to service this month from the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore.

The ships are scheduled to plug in at port from the start of 2011, which is when APL expects to complete a construction project to electrify its Oakland vessel berths for cold ironing.

APL has been awarded two grants, totalling $4.8 million, for the cold-ironing project. Part of the funding helped finance the month-long retrofit of each ship.

Each one of the five vessels has been equipped with:

* A transformer that steps down 6,600-volt shoreside power to the 480-volt power used aboard ships;

* Room-sized enclosures that house the receptacles where shore-power cables are connected to the vessels; and

* 8,000 meters of cabling that run from the receptacles through the transformer and into the vessel’s electrical control panel.

Cold ironing is one of the most recent measures announced by APL to curb vessel air emissions. Others include:

* Slow steaming: APL started slow-steaming in 2009. Reducing the speed of a vessel has helped to reduce fuel consumption. Adding extra vessels has enabled APL to reduce vessel speed while maintaining weekly schedules.

* Emulsified fuel: APL is testing new technology in which a combination of water and fuel is used in the main and auxiliary engines. This system is expected to provide fuel savings and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

* Vessel speed reduction program: APL participates in a voluntary speed reduction program for vessels in Southern California waters. Reducing vessel speed helps to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

* Biodiesel fuel: At the Port of Seattle, Washington, APL uses a biodiesel blend in yard tractors and mobile container handling equipment. This blend of low sulphur and biodiesel fuel reduces particulate matter emissions.