WORLD FIRST - SHORE POWER RUNS DOCKED OIL TANKER

A major source of air pollution in port areas comes from the giant vessels that tie up at their docks to load and unload cargo. That?is because the powerful diesel engines have to run continuously to keep the ships? equipment and support systems operating. That also means continuous spewing of GHG and diesel particulate emissions into the local air. A solution to this massive emissions problem has long existed but is not widely implemented because it involves expensive modifications both on-ship and to offshore facilities. It?s called shore power, which allows ships to shut down their diesel engines at berth and literally plug into the landside electricity grid, thus improving air quality.

But slow change is better than no change: BP America and the Port of Long Beach Wednesday opened the world?s first oil tanker terminal equipped with shore power plugs. The BP terminal on Pier T is actually Long Beach's second dock equipped with shore power, but it is the first such facility in the world for ?liquid bulk?? ships -- vessels that transport large amounts of petroleum and related fuels. Reducing air pollution is a major component of the port?s Green Port Policy, adopted in 2005. Also this week Long Beach issued a call for ideas to implement a zero-emission container movement system.

The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, along with the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority are seeking new technology to move cargo containers between docks and the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility near West Long Beach, potentially eliminating thousands of short-haul diesel truck trips each day and reducing air pollution. Proposed technologies might include electric guideways, zero-emission trucks, or electrified rail, all of which use electricity to power the movement of cargo, rather than diesel-fueled trucks. BP's shore power installation delivers enough electricity to power about 5,500 homes, up to 8 megawatts at 6,660 volts. The Alaska Tanker Company has equipped two vessels that regularly visit the port to be able to plug into the BP Terminal on Pier T, which supplies local refineries with crude oil. The joint project was completed at a cost of $23.7 million: $17.5 million from the port and $6.2 million from BP.

TIGER PRESERVATION PROJECT

PARIS, FRANCE, May 12, 2010 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- The 5th Global Oceans Conference, which convened on May 3-7, 2010, at UNESCO in Paris, brought together over 850 experts from 80 countries representing all sectors of the global oceans community--governments, international agencies, nongovernmental organizations, industry, scientific groups, academia, and museums and aquaria--to advance the global oceans agenda on three major issues affecting the oceans: climate and oceans; loss of marine biodiversity; and improving governance. The event also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the International Year of Biodiversity 2010.

The predominant assessment of the conference is that the various international commitments and targets agreed to at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and in other related fora, have not been met on a global basis, although there have been notable examples of success at regional and national levels. As well, while the awareness and visibility of oceans among decision makers and the public alike have increased considerably in the last decade, oceans have been largely absent in the climate negotiations, biodiversity loss continues to occur at an alarming rate, and progress on implementing ecosystem-based management and integrated and coastal management is lagging.

Convinced of the need to make progress on climate and oceans, marine biodiversity loss, and the implementation of an integrated ecosystem approach, and in consideration of the need to build consensus on, and foster equity in the policy options among different countries, regions, and interests, the conference Co-Chairs: Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain, Co-Chair and Head of Secretariat, Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands; Ambassador Laurent Stefanini, Ambassador for the Environment, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, France; and Dr. Wendy Watson Wright, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) UNESCO, put forth the following recommendations for consideration by national and international authorities:

Recommendation 1: Initiate an ocean process within and outside the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiating process. For coastal peoples everywhere and especially for small island developing States (SIDS), curbing climate change through deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions on a short time basis and with immediate and adequate financing to deploy adaptation measures is of utmost importance and, in many cases, a matter of survival. A comprehensive ocean rocess must include elements related to mitigation, adaptation, adequate financing, capacity development, and public awareness and understanding.

Recommendation 2: Within the 2010 International Year on Biodiversity, and the Convention for Biological Diversity process, develop the Nagoya Oceans Mandate providing for the renewal of the Jakarta mandate of marine and coastal biodiversity. Recommendation 3: Adequate and nested strategies at different scales (from local to global) must be developed for ecosystem-based ocean and coastal management at national and regional levels, and in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

For a summary of the Global Oceans Conference 2010, please see:http://www.globaloceans.org/sites/udel.edu.globaloceans/files/Summary_Report_IISD.pdf

The Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands http://globaloceans.org http://globaloceans.org/ was first mobilized in 2001 in anticipation of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. The Global Forum brings together ocean leaders from governments, non-governmental and international organizations, scientists, and the private sector to achieve the sustainable development of oceans, coasts, and islands and to advance the global oceans agenda.

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