The Port of Los Angeles is making strides toward cleaner emissions with a $31 million grant from the California Air Resources Board. This funding will kick off projects aimed at demonstrating new technology for harbor craft. Companies like Catalina Express and Harbor Breeze Cruises will be involved.
These projects will explore and evaluate advanced, eco-friendly harbor vessels.
According to CARB Chairperson Liane Randolph, “California is showcasing what can be done to bring cleaner marine technology to life, ensuring better health for those near ports.”
Both Catalina Express and Harbor Breeze Cruises will match the grant with $15 million each for the demonstration programs. The Los Angeles Harbor Commission is also contributing $650,000 to support the evaluation of the project. Meanwhile, the Port of Long Beach will add around $340,000 to help the technology evaluation alongside harbor craft operators and regulators.
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said, “To become a zero-emission port, we must adopt various emission-reduction technologies and encourage their commercial use.” He expressed gratitude to all partners involved in this project.
The initiative, named the Los Angeles Marine Emission Reduction project, will design a new passenger ferry with Tier 4 engines. These engines align with strict standards for emissions in marine operations. The ferry, run by Catalina Express, will use renewable diesel and will replace three older ferries, improving efficiency and reducing emissions.
Greg Bombard, President and CEO of Catalina Express, said, “For over 43 years, we’ve prioritized the environment. We’ve moved many of our vessels to renewable diesel.” He noted that the CARB grant is key to building this new, greener ferry for passengers traveling to Catalina Island.
Harbor Breeze Cruises will focus on designing and deploying two boats that can operate in zero-emission mode. These vessels are expected to exceed current definitions of zero-emission technology, operating 30% or more of the time without emissions.
Capt. Dan Salas, founder of Harbor Breeze Cruises, shared his excitement about these advancements. He believes the San Pedro Bay ports are making meaningful strides towards improving air quality and supporting a healthier community.
The project will wrap up with a thorough evaluation of the new technologies, identifying gaps in infrastructure needed for zero-emission harbor craft, as well as the training required for workers to operate these new engines and battery-electric solutions in San Pedro Bay.
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