By
Rebecca Gibson |
Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) is to rely on scrubber technology, rather than developing shore power facilities for cruise ships berthed at Ogden, to improve air quality in Victoria Harbor.
After monitoring the air quality in James Bay, GVHA found that elevated levels of sulphur dioxide generally occurred when ships manoeuvred in and out of the port under their own engine power. As such, shore power only has a positive impact when ships are already berthed.
“Environmental protection is a priority for GVHA and we are committed to working with the cruise industry and federal regulators to mitigate air quality impacts,” said Curtis Grad, president and CEO. “The best solution to meet regulatory requirements and protect local air quality, both in port and at berth, is onboard scrubber technology. Shore power is a very cost prohibitive investment with limited benefits for ports of call like Victoria.”
In addition, feasibility studies indicated that due to North American emissions control area regulations, ships will be required to use low sulphur fuels, or equivalent means such as marine gas exhaust cleaning systems (scrubbers), when sailing in the region. As scrubbers reduce around 98% of sulphur dioxide, 80% of particulate matter and carbon dioxide, this should ensure that good air quality is maintained while ships are within the vicinity of Victoria harbour, as well as when they are berthed.
Other factors limiting the viability of shore power include the fact that many ships make short calls in Victoria, the time required to plug the ships in when at berth, and the fact that it would cost more than CAD 9.5 million to equip one side of the pier at Ogden Point, which would only serve a third of total cruise calls.
“Industry commitments to cleaner fuel and onboard scrubber technology have eclipsed shore power as a viable air quality strategy for Victoria,” said Grad. “Given that the vast majority of cruise ships operating in the Pacific Northwest will be equipped with onboard scrubbers by the end of 2015, it is not prudent to invest scarce financial resources at Ogden Point for marginal benefit.”
Several of the cruise lines that regularly call in Victoria have announced plans to install scrubbers onboard their vessels. Carnival Corporation is to install scrubbers on more than 70% of its ten-brand fleet, while Royal Caribbean International is to retrofit scrubbers to six ships. Norwegian Cruise Lines, which was the first to feature scrubbers on newbuilds, has also committed to installing the technology.
“Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) members have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to develop and implement new technologies that help to reduce air emissions and protect air quality in the communities where cruise ships operate,” said Greg Wirtz, CLIA-NWC President. “CLIA member lines are in the process of developing and deploying exhaust gas scrubbers to reduce sulphur emissions from ships’ engines and to develop engines that run more efficiently and with reduced emissions.”