U.S. seaports’ effects on the environment

Many ports across the U.S. found ships to be the largest polluter, but great strides have been made over the years in addressing ship pollution, said Susan Monteverde, vice president for government relations at the American Association of Port Authorities.    Traffic at ports is expected to grow in some areas across the United States, which could potentially exacerbate air pollution problems if the nation is not proactive, Sarah Froman, transportation policy advisor at the Environmental Protection Agency said during a “Talking Freight” seminar, which was hosted by the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Freight Management and Operations and the Office of Planning.
   Infrastructure updates and expansion is needed at ports, along with clean technology and improved operational strategies, Froman said.
   There is a strong partnership between public ports and the federal government, and ports hope this will be reflected in President Donald Trump’s $1 trillion infrastructure plan, Susan Monteverde, vice president for government relations at the American Association of Port Authorities said during the seminar.
   Seaports are seeking $66 billion in federal support for port related infrastructure over the next decade.
   Although some people do not realize that infrastructure investments address environmental challenges, any investments that move cargo faster and more efficiently often decrease port emissions, Monteverde explained.
   However, intelligent transportation programs could also drive down emissions, so we need to think broader than infrastructure when it comes to helping the environment, she said.
   Air emissions inventories have been carried out at various ports, and many found that ships were the largest polluter.
   Several ports, especially those on the U.S. West Coast, have launched incentives for ships to slow down before entering the port, and some ports have also looked into shore power and incentives for ships to use alternative fuel, Monteverde said.
   However, Erik Neugaard, environmental program manager at Port Everglades, noted how expensive shore power is during the seminar. In addition, on the West Coast, especially in the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland, there is added concern over whether larger containerships would be able to align with shore power connection locations, Lee Kindberg, director of environment and sustainability for Maersk Line said during a Talking Freight Seminar last month.
   Overall though, great stride has been made over the last few years in addressing ship pollution, according to Monteverde.
   Meanwhile, trucks are another challenge for ports when it comes to emissions, and ports are starting to roll out truck appointment systems to boost efficiency and reduce congestion, Monteverde said. Improvements have also been made with yard equipment and rail related emissions.
   The Port of New Orleans, for example, has electrified cranes, just began an anti-idling program, and also has a container on barge service, which takes trucks off the road, thus reducing congestion, Amelia Pellegrin, director of sustainable development at the port said during the seminar.