Retrofits planned for cargo handling equipment at Wilmington and Morehead City

WILMINGTON, N.C. --- The NC State Ports Authority has been awarded a $140,000 grant for diesel emission control devices from the NC Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR). The Authority will use the funds to retrofit existing cargo handling equipment and machinery with devices that reduce air emissions at the Ports of Wilmington and Morehead City. The retrofit will include forklifts and cranes at each port, as well as container handling machines at the Port of Wilmington.

Two types of devices will be installed on existing equipment to reduce emissions: diesel oxidation catalysts and diesel particulate filters. The oxidation catalysts will reduce emissions of particulate matter, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide from 20% to as much as 90%, depending on the horsepower and use of the equipment. The particulate filters would reduce these same emissions from 60% to 90%, again according to horsepower and use.

“Significant progress is being made across the transportation industry for greener and more environmentally friendly operations,” said Ports Authority CEO Thomas J. Eagar. “For a number of years, the Authority has been moving to reduce the Ports’ environmental footprint. Our desire is to be a good neighbor while bringing economic prosperity in jobs and tax revenues to the region and State.”

Among the ongoing Ports Authority initiatives to increase environmental sustainability both inside and outside the port facilities, the Authority adopted ultra low sulfur diesel fuel as its primary off-road diesel fuel on July 1, 2007, over three years in advance of federal requirements.

Also in 2007, the Authority put into service four new environmentally-friendly electrified container cranes, and is exploring additional grants that would replace other specialized cargo handling diesel equipment with all electric units.

In December 2008, as part of its commitment to sustainable, environmentally friendly operations at the Ports of Wilmington and Morehead City, the Ports Authority offered a free workshop on diesel emissions reduction for truckers.

The NC State Ports Authority also has been awarded grants to install biodiesel fuel tanks at its facilities, and to retrofit lighting in its warehouses.

“For North Carolina’s ports and the port industry as a whole, diesel emissions have become the focus of a major reduction effort,” Eagar said.