Six Case Studies in GREEN

By Diane Mettler

Sustainability includes three components — environmental soundness, economic feasibility and social equity.

The transportation industry is finding a host of paths toward a sustainable future. Whether ports, rail or trucks, each is finding ways to make a meaningful difference — for both the environment and their company.

Below is a selection of different green initiatives taking place, both big and small. In each instance companies have found unique opportunities to tap.

Solar Ship
Who: Toyota Motor Corporation, NYK Line, Nippon Oil Corporation

What: 328 solar panels were installed on the Auriga Leader to supplement the power needs of the 656-foot, 60,000-ton carrier ship. The solar panels can generate up to 40 kilowatts (10 percent of the energy used while the ship is docked), decreasing demand on the ship’s diesel-powered auxiliary engines for electricity and lowering emissions.

The Auriga Leader launched in early December 2008 in Kobe, Japan, making its first call at the Port of Long Beach, July 1, 2009. Visitors were allowed to come aboard and view the installation as part of a demonstration to help raise awareness about reducing diesel emissions from large ships.

The ship is operated by NYK Line and is a joint venture between Nippon Yusen KK (NYK) and Nippon Oil Corporation.
Future: It’s Nippon Yusen’s goal to halve its fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by 2010.

“The Auriga Leader is a perfect example of how the maritime industry is voluntarily finding new and innovative ways to be responsible stewards of the environment,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Richard D. Steinke.

Solar-powered Top-of-Rail Modification System
Who: Norfolk Southern

What: A friction modification system applies a friction modifier to the top of the rail. It reduces the lateral force of the wheels to the track, which reduces damage to the track and also increases fuel economy.

The system is solar-powered and includes wheel sensors and a computer to control the application rate. 

Each reservoir contains about 20 to 25 gallons of friction modifier. The sensors trigger the system to begin pumping at the ideal time. The computer, in addition to timing the applications, allows the company to track when and how much friction modifier is being used.

“My department, R&T, has been working on this probably for about four or five years, and we have, I think, 100 or so of these that have been installed in the western part of the Virginia division,” said Russell McDaniel, director of process improvement.

Future: “Depending on how many we put out and where they’re put, we could potentially save millions of dollars,” said McDaniel.
Norfolk is not only saving money in the cost of fuel but also in rack maintenance. McDaniel said the friction modifier reduces the train’s side-to side-movement, which is the movement that can “tear up your track and destroy your track structure.” 

A Green Fleet
Who: Green Fleet Systems

What: The drayage-oriented transportation company was the first to bring natural gas trucks into the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach (LA/LB). They were part of a pilot program that has resulted in over 5,000 clean trucks operating in the LA/LB ports.
The latest statistics indicate that 57 percent of the port gate moves are being made by clean trucks — LNG and clean diesel trucks.
Chuck Gurr, warehouse manager, Green Fleet Systems, said the program began in October 2008, when trucks older than 1989 were banned from the port. Next to go into effect was the incentives portion.

“[The port] put in place penalties for trucks that weren’t green. A truck coming into the port that was built between 1994 through 2006 had to pay a $35 per TEU fee. And it was $70 for a 40-foot container,” said Gurr. “That gave the industry the incentive to go out and privately finance all of these new trucks to come on.”

The challenge for Green Fleet Systems has been the cost. The average diesel truck typically costs around $100,000 and a comparable LNG truck runs around $175,000. But between incentives, grants and tax credits, Gurr said the LNG trucks became economically competitive.

Future: LNG fueling stations are available in the LA basin, but aren’t as numerous elsewhere. As fueling stations come on in other areas in the next couple years, Gurr said the company plans to “move some of its [current] trucks over to those markets as the LA requirements become even more stringent.”

Solar Power Port
Who: Port of West Sacramento

What: The port installed solar panels on several sheds that will provide 1 megawatt of solar energy for the Port of West
Sacramento (roughly enough energy to power 1,000 homes).

The project is scheduled for completion this summer.

Future: The solar power is just one step toward the port’s sustainable future. However, it will immediately cut 10 percent from the port’s electric bill.

Testing Pluggable Hybrid Electric Terminal Tractor
Who: Ports America, Capacity of Texas, Total Terminals International, Port of Long Beach

What: Ports America recently tested a new Capacity of Texas hybrid yard hustler, PHETT (Pluggable Hybrid Electric Terminal Tractor) at Total Terminals International’s Pier T in the Port of Long Beach.
This latest evolution of hybrid technology stopped in Long Beach for two weeks in June as it traveled across the country on a
demo tour.

“This diesel-electric hybrid terminal tractor is a charge-sustaining series hybrid that utilizes a constant and efficient rate generator to supply power, reducing fuel consumption by 60 percent and audible db by 30 percent,” said Sam Wood, sales engineer for Capacity of Texas. “[The demo] provided an opportunity to gather valuable data through the testing done by the Port of Long Beach, with the assistance of Ports America and TTI Hanjin.”

The Port of Long Beach, although not financially involved in the product, had its technical consultant, TIAX, develop a test plan for this machine to gather engine data for fuel economy and emissions, operator acceptance and service and maintenance requirements. It surveyed drivers and maintenance advisors and the results became available in August.

Carbon Footprint Study
Who: Port of Seattle

What: The Port of Seattle is the first port to review the carbon footprint of specific trade gateways. They commissioned Herbert Engineering to analyze carbon footprints of trade routes, covering shipments from Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore to Chicago, Columbus and Memphis by vessel and rail through the ports of Prince Rupert, Seattle, Oakland, and Los Angeles/Long Beach.

It also analyzed routes via the Panama and Suez Canals through the ports of Houston, Savannah, Norfolk and New York. Ships sized at 4,500, 6,500, 8,500, and 12,500 TEUs were included in the study, as was the year 2014 expansion of the Panama Canal.

The findings were released in May 2009 and it was determined that Seattle and Tacoma were closer to Asia than any other U.S. port, resulting in shorter ocean transit times and lower fuel consumption on the ocean leg of the journey.

Below is an example of the findings. For the full report you can download the PDF at www.portseattle.org.

In This Issue

Up Front

News, Trends & Analysis
New Items

The outlook is improving

Supply Chain
Federal chassis rules: Are you ready?

Working with the public sector

How will your company deal with Sarbanes-Oxley

Features
Gateway at a glance Southern California

Six case studies in green

Ports & infrastructure
Nowhere near a Peak Season this year

Port Products
Green port product review

Commentary
Sustainable: The new buzz word

On the Horizon
Expect to see more LNG fuel stations in the future

Casualties