World Trade - September 2008 - (Page 45) Fuel supplies are insecure, costs are rising and pollution control strategies are not likely to achieve emission controls needed to protect public health as port business in constrained urban areas grows, especially if container traffic doubles by 2020 as predicted. Natural gas and biodiesel have already been shown to be viable substitutes for diesel fuel in port vehicles. Natural gas has the environmental advantages of lower tailpipe emissions, lower greenhouse gases and greater supply. Hybrid electric technology is also promising and entering a broader demonstration phase in port vehicles. Develop and Implement a National Port Clean-Up Strategy. Every port has a unique competitive position, but all ports are major sources of air pollution that share the same portfolio of pollution control options. When operating alone to address environmental problems, each port must face the possibility that changes in its operating procedures could increase costs and place it at a competitive disadvantage to other ports. Several ports recognize this dilemma and are acting cooperatively to prevent adverse competitive repercussions from clean-up efforts (Los Angeles and Long Beach, Puget Sound). The next logical step is to develop a national port strategy at the federal government level. Create a National Funding Mechanism to Finance Uniform and Comprehensive Port Clean Up. Port of Tacoma A new national initiative to reduce air pollution at ports will require significant funding to be effective. New funding sources will need to be created using tax revenues or credits, loan funds, or port user fees as the revenue source. A national container fee, similar to the one under debate in California, is a potentially attractive option for the federal government as well. A $30 per TEU fee would raise $1.3 billion, if implemented nationally. This is roughly equal to the annual clean-up costs estimated in this study to be required between now and 2020. A fee at this level would make an inconsequential impact on the cost to the consumer goods imported by container ship. It would also raise shipping costs by less than 10 percent. Advocate Global Environmental Standards in the International Arena. diplomacy is vital to any long-term solution to port pollution issues. When the U.S. elevates its involvement in IMO negotiation, the regulation of fuel standards for transoceanic ships is probably the most important priority. The entire global shipping industry is powered by notoriously filthy, but inexpensive, bunker fuel. The short-term goal must be to improve the fuel quality of the shipping industry’s fuel. An intermediate goal is to develop pollution control technology capable of reducing smokestack emissions. The long-term goal should be to replace bunker fuel entirely with an alternative fuel, such as natural gas or hydrogen, which are already being studied for use onboard ships. Create a Clearinghouse of Public Information about Port Clean-Up Efforts. Maersk Line is conducting a pilot program that is expected to remove 400 tons of vessel-related emissions from its fleet when it operates in California waters. There is a lot of information in the public domain and more attention is being focused on ports as decision makers are becoming more aware of the adverse consequences of port air pollution. Nonetheless, there remains an urgent need for a national clearinghouse of information about environmental issues at ports. This role is already being played in part by the AAPA, but its information is primarily for use by its members. Some individual ports and regulatory agencies also have excellent websites, but the information they post is mostly limited to local programs. WT James S. Cannon is President of Energy futures, Inc., a Coloradobased consultancy in energy and related environmental issues in the transportation sector. National leadership in port clean-up efforts would boost the credibility of the U.S. in international arenas, especially at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) where maritime energy and environmental issues are debated. International For reprints of this article, please contact Cindy Williams at williamsc@bnpmedia.com or 610-436-4220 ext. 8516. 45 WWW.WORLDTRADEMAG.COM http://WWW.WORLDTRADEMAG.COM
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