Displaying items by tag: Cold Iron
Killybegs Harbour's New ‘Shore Power’ Facilities to Help Cut Emissions
Killybegs Harbour's new system to allow trawlers to use “shore power” when in port – thereby cutting out harmful emissions from diesel generators – has been welcomed by Minister for the Marine Charlie McConalogue.
Providing electricity to trawlers and ships while they are in port, The Irish Times reports, avoids the need for the vessels to keep their engines running to provide light, heat, cooking facilities and operate the range of modern facilities and technical equipment needed onboard.
Shore power allows the masters of vessels to switch off their large diesel engines which are used at sea to generate electricity for the vessel. The process mirrors “cold ironing” a term which dates from the days when coal was used to fire ships engines. When coal-fired ships were in harbour their iron engines cooled down, eventually going cold - hence, “cold iron”.
In modern times ships, notably the larger scale vessels such as cruise ships, need to keep electricity available in port to power everything from restaurants to swimming pools. As a result such ships continue to burn diesel to generate power, with much criticism from environmentalists. During the planning hearing for cruise ships in Dun Laoghaire Harbour expert testimony was given that such ship-board power stations would need EPA licences if they were based on land.
Under the Dublin Port Master Plan provision has been made to allow cruise ships to “plug in” to shore power, to bypass the need to keep engines and or diesel generators running and pumping exhaust fumes into the city. However a spokesman for the port has previously questioned the number of large-scale, cruise ships which have facilities to accept shore power.
For more click here in addition to cruiseships set to return to Dublin Bay next year with increased anchorage calls off Dun Laoghaire Harbour.