NYK successfully tests cold ironing unit on new ship

NYK successfully tests cold ironing unit on new ship NYK said that it has successfully tested the connection of a new type of shoreside electric power unit with a soon-to-be-delivered 8,600-TEU boxship.
   The high cost of vessel retrofitting has hampered the spread of ship-to-shore power systems, also known as cold ironing, but NYK said these units differ from those being tested by the 2004-built 6,200-TEU NYK Atlas at the Port of Los Angeles as they are modified containers set in a rear corner cargo space allowing for quick and simple modification on existing ships in service.
   Cold ironing is being considered by many shipowners and port authorities as a solution to cutting vessel emissions while at dock. The concept calls for vessels to plug into shore-based electricity and thereby shutdown their highly polluting auxiliary engines that typically run while a vessel is at berth.
   The series of eight new 8,600-TEU containerships being built by Japanese shipbuilder IHI Marie United Inc. will also be equipped with electronically controlled engines and leak-preventing hulls.
   “NYK will continue to make environmental concerns its top priority by striving to develop and make use of environmentally consciousness engineering and equipment,” the Tokyo carrier said in a statement.