Jul 1, 2005 12:00 PM

Expanding the use of the world's first clean electrical power program for container ships at dock, the Port of Los Angeles is beginning construction on a direct wharf plug-in system at Berths 212-216. Considered the “next generation” of the Alternative Maritime Power (AMP) program, ships calling at these berths will not use a barge conduit for connecting ships to shore-side electrical power, like the system currently in use at Berth 100 in the port. Ships will simply plug in to an AMP outlet contained in the wharf itself.

Each container ship plugged into the port's AMP program saves one ton of nitrogen oxide and particulate matter from entering the Los Angeles Basin per day.

“Each time we plug in a ship, we prevent the equivalent emissions as that generated by 16,000 truck trips from entering our air. We are making history at the port, and the entire region will benefit,” said Councilwoman Janice Hahn.

Construction of an electrical utility service substation, supplied by the city's Department of Water and Power, electrical switchgear, underground and under-wharf conduit, cables, and a wharf-mounted flush AMP outlet vault are all needed to outfit the wharf with AMP. Construction is expected to take six months to complete; total cost is estimated at more than $1 million.