Occupational Diseases: US Port, Cruise Ship Operators Team to Reduce Air Pollution

Voice of America reports that the port of Puget Sound and Holland America plans to work to reduce cruise ship diesel exhaust by utilizing the power grid of Seattle. In doing so, the port's transformers will allow the company's ships to run on electricity as opposed to diesel fuel when they dock. Holland America company president Stein Kruse says "the ships of today and the size of our engines and the power requirements are so substantial and to bring something like this into the city's electrical grid requires a lot of technology."

The changeover will cost Holland America millions of dollars. Princess Cruises last year spent more than $1 million to install the electrical system at the Seattle port, and another million to equip each ship to utilize the new technology. Holland American also is testing a new seawater scrubber that will clean ship exhaust before it reaches the smokestack, further reducing ship emissions. Experts estimate the new initiatives will reduce air pollution by 30%.