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Ten years ago, PortMiami — the busiest cruise port in the world — proposed installing a technology at terminals to reduce cruise ship emissions.
The tech, known as shore power, allows ships to turn off their engines and plug in to the land-based power grid. (THREAD)
The tech, known as shore power, allows ships to turn off their engines and plug in to the land-based power grid. (THREAD)
In the meantime, however, Miami-Dade has invested $700 million to construct five shiny new cruise terminals.
None of the projects include shore power. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article248483725.html
None of the projects include shore power. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article248483725.html
Shore power has been around for 20+ years.
Ports around the country have recognized the technology does exactly what it promises: cuts down on toxic emissions.
It remains on a long list of proposed public investments that county leaders have put aside.
Ports around the country have recognized the technology does exactly what it promises: cuts down on toxic emissions.
It remains on a long list of proposed public investments that county leaders have put aside.
. @insideFPL says it stands ready to install the power hookups at the port.
And the cost of installing the technology is dwarfed by the annual handouts ranging from $2.3M to $9M that PortMiami regularly gives cruise lines as a reward for bringing a certain amount of passengers.
And the cost of installing the technology is dwarfed by the annual handouts ranging from $2.3M to $9M that PortMiami regularly gives cruise lines as a reward for bringing a certain amount of passengers.
So what’s the hold up?
“I don’t have an answer for that,” said port director Juan Kuryla. “I don’t know.”
“I don’t have an answer for that,” said port director Juan Kuryla. “I don’t know.”
There is no U.S. port more perfectly suited for shore power than PortMiami.
A 2017 EPA assessment of the technology’s feasibility found it may be most effective when used at ports with a high percentage of frequently returning vessels
A 2017 EPA assessment of the technology’s feasibility found it may be most effective when used at ports with a high percentage of frequently returning vessels
In one year, cruise ships @PortMiami emit as much greenhouse gas as almost 7,000 houses annually — a bigger city than Pinecrest.
The emissions linger in the atmosphere, contributing to the climate change quickening the demise of the port, and the city itself. Climate change is expected to slosh Miami with several feet of sea rise and a temperature spike.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Seven U.S. ports already have shore power, and many European ports are required to have it by 2025. At least 15 shore power-capable ships have stayed at PortMiami hundreds of times since 2011, emitting avoidable greenhouse gases into the atmosphere instead of plugging in.
A Miami Herald analysis of EPA data and the agency’s shore power calculator found shore power could reduce carbon emissions at PortMiami by about 35%, and emissions most dangerous to human health sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide by 67% and 99%, respectively.
Cruise companies have long touted their multi-million dollar investments in outfitting vessels with plugs and say they are ready to convert ships that visit Miami as soon as shore power is available.
“It’s a win-win in our view,” said Carnival Corporation’s senior vice president of maritime affairs Tom Strang. “It’s cleaner to the port, it’s better for us, we aren’t contributing to local emissions...We’re just waiting for more ports to provide the power.”
Had the tech been installed in 2011, PortMiami could have avoided spewing nearly half a million tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Until the Miami Herald published a story in November 2019 mentioning shore power, one commission staffer said the issue simply had never come up. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article248483725.html
Miami Herald reporters @taydolven, @harrisalexc and @AdriBras will continue to follow the cruise industry’s impact on our environment.
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