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AMP Unveiled
First ship “plugs in” to Alternative Marine Power (AMP) at Port of LA

The world’s first electrified container vessel entered the Port of LA on June 21st. The ship is the first of eleven container ships owned by China Shipping that will turn off their engines and plug into locally generated power to the Port of Los Angeles.

The majority of ships that deliver goods to US markets run on bunker fuel, considered to be the dirtiest fuel available on today’s market. However, now 70 percent of the ships landing at China Shipping have agreed to plug into shoreside power provided by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The program, referred to as Alternative Marine Power (AMP) is expected to reduce up to three tons of smog-forming emissions and 350 pounds of diesel particulate matter during each ship visit.

The emissions from one container vessel while docked are equal to nearly three diesel truck trips around the world, or about 70,000 miles.

The AMP program at the port was created by a settlement agreement between the Port of Los Angeles and the Coalition for Clean Air, local San Pedro homeowners’ groups, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. CCA also continues to collaborate with community and environmental organizations, including the Wilmington Coalition and Communities for a Better Environment, to help clean up our ports.

Now that China Shipping has proven that shore power for ships is possible, Coalition for Clean Air staff are working hard to ensure future expansion projects at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach require AMP. If implemented across the board, the ports could reduce as much as 17 tons of smog-forming pollution and 3 tons of diesel particulates a day. See Harboring Pollution, our latest report, for more details.