Polluting ports urged to embrace greener fuels

Recent efforts to curb emissions from the 10 largest US ports are not making a big enough impact, according to a study from research firm Energy Futures released this week.

The report, US Container Ports and Air Pollution: A Perfect Storm, investigated the ten busiest US container ports, which together handle approximately 80 per cent of the nation's imports, and studied the effect of pollution controls over ten months last year.

James Cannon, author of the report and president of Energy Futures said, strategies were underway and encouragingly, nine out of 10 ports studied have environmental departments within their management structure.

The report also found ports are investing to reduce emissions from diesel powered equipment and switching to grades of diesel fuel containing lower sulphur content. Cannon welcomed the moves, but warned that "this does nothing to diversify fuel supply away from oil".

He argued the best way to lower air pollution is for ports to switch to alternative fuels and technologies, including natural gas, bio diesel and hybrid vehicle technology.

Cannon called for action to promote use of alternative fuels and alternative energy at ports, especially as port traffic is predicted to double by 2020. He also urged ports to develop and implement a national cleanup strategy involving cooperation between competitors with the next logical step being to develop a national green port initiative at federal government level.

Creating a national funding mechanism, advocating global environmental standards in the international arena as well as improving reporting standards were also encouraged in the study.

The report follows research last year from oil giant BP which suggested that emissions from international shipping are almost double that from aviation and are liable to rise by up to 75 per cent over the next 20 years as global trade continues to grow.