Cleaning Up America’s Ports

By Charlie Miller. 

The maritime industry is increasingly looking for more ways to achieve greater sustainability. While shipping by America’s inland and coastal waterways is extremely efficient, particularly compared to other modes of transportation, there is renewed attention to how ports can work to reduce emissions. 

As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) puts it: “Port authorities and other port operators have an important role to play in mitigating” emissions. 

Sustainability Consultancy Tunley Environmental, which recently produced a detailed net zero carbon emissions strategy for Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority, is seeing increasing demands from ports around the U.S. to create plans for greater sustainability, especially with significant funding opportunities provided plans are put in place in good time.

Tunley Environmental senior carbon reduction scientist Dr. Robert Moorcroft, who led the Detroit/Wayne County project, says America is starting to catch up with other nations in its focus on port sustainability.

“In the past, America might not have been as interested in taking action to improve port sustainability as some other regions of the world but today there is more and more appetite, particularly in the Midwest. There is increasing pressure from local communities as well as from consumers who are demanding action.

“The EPA is currently considering applications for its $3 billion of grants to fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure as well as climate and air quality planning at U.S. ports. The results will be announced in September.

“There are other initiatives and funding sources that help ports tackle environmental and health impacts on surrounding communities. But the funding windows are often short, so it is vital that sustainability plans are put in place. At Tunley we are receiving an increasing number of calls asking us to come and assess current outputs and help create those plans.”

Such is the growth in interest that Tunley has announced its third successive year of turnover growth in excess of 50 per cent. At the heart of Tunley’s success has been its expertise in working with maritime and ports clients around the world, accounting for more than a third of total turnover.

“The maritime industry is responsible for 3 percent of global emissions and it’s growing,” explains Moorcroft. “The work now is to convert from fossil fuels to zero emission power sources in port equipment, trucks and shipping.”

“The first step is to develop the baseline carbon footprint with an estimate of carbon emissions and recommended strategies to eliminate those emissions. Strong engagement with the local community is an important element of the plan as it can help pinpoint certain issues such as truck density.

“The essential route to cut those greenhouse gases is electrification of port equipment and vehicles, and continued research for a zero-emission replacement fuel for cargo ships. It is not always possible currently with some of the larger equipment – but biofuels offer a viable interim solution. With the EPA grants covering some of the capital expenditure costs, electrification offers emissions reduction, reduced noise and vibration, and critically a financial advantage, as electric equipment is cheaper to run than equivalent diesel. Another decarbonization strategy is to switch transport modes from trucking to barge/ship where possible. This offers a staggering 90% emissions reduction. Longer-term, green methanol or green hydrogen could offer excellent zero emission solutions as research and development lowers the costs of these fuels.”

Biodiesel has 74% emissions reduction when compared to traditional diesel and is compatible with a large majority of the equipment used in port terminals today. 

Moorcroft concludes: “The future is exciting. There are solutions. And there is funding. Those we work with look to benchmark their emissions, work much more sustainably, tap into available funding, and do it all while maintaining a profitable business.”

Charlie Miller is a senior media relations adviser with Polaris Media.