In a move aimed at significantly reducing pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions in San Diego Bay, the Port of San Diego is beefing up its shore power system at the B Street cruise ship terminal. According to a press release by the Port of San Diego, the Board of Port Commissioners approved purchasing additional equipment on Tuesday to help support its commitment to a more sustainable and cleaner maritime environment.
This upgrade comes for $676,273 and is earmarked to allow ships with starboard connections to quickly access shore power. Port Chairman Rafael Castellanos has emphasized the importance of this balance, telling the press, "The Port of San Diego has shown we are not afraid to be a port first and take our role as an environmental champion of the bay to heart.” There's an understanding that the cruise industry is a significant economic force but must evolve to remain sustainable.
Shore power is a major goal in the Port’s Maritime Clean Air Strategy, which aims to slash pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and diesel particulate matter, both notorious for their harmful impact on the air quality around the Bay Area. This strategy also includes other measures to combat greenhouse gas emissions from vessels docked at the B Street Pier’s south berth.
With a design phase set to kick off in winter 2023, this third-shore power connection point is slated to be up and running in 2024. Since 2010, when the first shore power connection was introduced, the Port has been at the forefront, beating state regulations and investing approximately $24.7 million in infrastructure to support cleaner air initiatives. The new investment not only supports the state's air quality goals but firmly aligns with the California Air Resource Board’s At-Berth Regulation to advance the Port's efforts in running a greener operation.
