Shore side power

(NYK Line) is to fit 38 ships in its container vessel fleet with Alternative Maritime Power (AMP) technology over the next few years at a cost of $22m.

Following the lead of the NYK Atlas, the first NYK vessel built from the keel up to use AMP, twenty new ships currently on order will be delivered with AMP capabilities. In addition, seventeen ships presently in service will be retrofitted with AMP technology during their scheduled inspections.

The NYK Atlas presently operates between Asia and the west coast of North America. The vessel is currently participating in AMP testing at NYK"s terminal at the Port of Los Angeles which is managed by Yusen Terminals.

The first ship to be retrofitted will be the NYK Apollo, which will enter dry dock in November this year. The company expects to have over thirty of the AMP capable vessels in service by the end of 2009.

AMP technology is said to allow a vessel to shut down the onboard diesel power generators while at berth and connect directly to more environmentally friendly shore-side electrical power.

Using shore power while at dockside reduces and almost eliminates the vessel's emission of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur oxide and particulate matter.

In addition to the AMP technology, eight of the 8,600 TEU containerships that NYK currently has on order will be equipped with electronically controlled engines to further reduce air emissions and leak-preventing hulls to protect the marine environment.