Port of Oakland charges ahead with record shore power usage

The Port of Oakland has set a new benchmark for shore power usage for container ships, achieving a record 94% plug-in rate for ships in the first half of 2024. This marks a notable increase from the 85% rate seen across all of 2023.

Shore power allows ships to plug into an electric grid at the dock, turning off their diesel engines and cutting emissions while at berth. Data from the port indicates that out of 517 calls year to date in 2024, 488 vessels (94.2%) either plugged in or used an emissions barge. Ocean carriers whose ships used shore power include CMA CGM, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, and Matson as well as MSC, ONE Pasja, Wan Hai and Yang Ming. Meanwhile, out of 985 calls in 2023, 846 vessels (86%) drew shore power.

“Shore power is the single most effective way to reduce vessel emissions when a ship is in port,” said Port of Oakland Environmental Programs and Planning Director Colleen Liang. “We appreciate the ship owners retrofitting their vessels for shore power. We also thank the terminal operators for coordinating and providing labor to physically plug in the ships that call Oakland.”

The port said that the record builds on strong performance since November 2023, with shore power usage consistently exceeding 91%, and a peak of 99% achieved in May.

Oakland has been working to boost shore power use since 2012, as container ships have been the biggest source of diesel exhaust at the port.

Looking ahead, the port plans to install mobile shore power outlets, becoming the first port in the US to do so.