Posted:
July 30, 2009
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant of $1.5 million recently awarded to Totem Ocean Trailer Express Inc. (TOTE) will allow the company to retrofit its two Orca Class vessels with electrical power plug-ins and install electrical marine power at its terminal in Tacoma, Wash.
The project will reduce particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions from the Orca Class vessels by an estimated 90 percent while docked at the Port of Tacoma. Building on previous investments by the company, the grant will make TOTE’s vessels the first to use shore-side power while docked. Awarded as part of the government’s stimulus initiative, the EPA received more than 49 applications for the funds, the company reported.
“When this grant became available, we had already been researching this project,” said TOTE Vice President of Marine & Terminal Operations Phil Morrell. “We had a lot of information already packaged -- costs, drawings, emissions testing data -- and we were able to respond quickly.”
TOTE’s Orca Class vessels, the M/V North Star and the M/V Midnight Sun, are operated by Interocean American Shipping Corporation in a Jones Act service between Washington State and Alaska and are manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers. The project is expected to be completed by September 2010.
EPA grant will help TOTE reduce at-berth emissions
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant of $1.5 million recently awarded to Totem Ocean Trailer Express Inc. (TOTE) will allow the company to retrofit its two Orca Class vessels with electrical power plug-ins and install electrical marine power at its terminal in Tacoma, Wash.
The project will reduce particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions from the Orca Class vessels by an estimated 90 percent while docked at the Port of Tacoma. Building on previous investments by the company, the grant will make TOTE’s vessels the first to use shore-side power while docked. Awarded as part of the government’s stimulus initiative, the EPA received more than 49 applications for the funds, the company reported.
“When this grant became available, we had already been researching this project,” said TOTE Vice President of Marine & Terminal Operations Phil Morrell. “We had a lot of information already packaged -- costs, drawings, emissions testing data -- and we were able to respond quickly.”
TOTE’s Orca Class vessels, the M/V North Star and the M/V Midnight Sun, are operated by Interocean American Shipping Corporation in a Jones Act service between Washington State and Alaska and are manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers. The project is expected to be completed by September 2010.