For immediate release

Vancouver: The Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) and two container terminal operators have completed a study with a private supplier to test a fuel additive designed to reduce harmful air emissions in land-based container handling equipment. Results of the study indicate the additive significantly reduced particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide emissions and generated improvements in combustion efficiency. CombustAll, produced by Vancouver-based Catalyst Energy Inc., is a chemical catalyst added to diesel or heavy bunker fuel to increase the combustion efficiency of engines and boilers.

"As trade through the Port of Vancouver increases, the Vancouver Port Authority continues to seek ways to improve the environment in which we operate, to find solutions to reduce impacts from industry on our neighbouring communities and grow our business in a responsible and sustainable manner," said Captain Gordon Houston, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver Port Authority.

CombustAll works to improve combustion efficiency by catalyzing the oxidation of hydrocarbon molecules further to completion. Improved efficiency not only extracts additional energy from each unit of fuel but reduces several airborne pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter, all of which are hazardous to human health and/or have a detrimental effect on the environment. Copies of the study results are available here
CombustAll study [PDF | 509 KB]




"We recognize port business, the environment and the quality of life, including air, are all interrelated. This program allows us to examine options to cost effectively reduce air emissions as we continue to grow our business," said David Stowe, Chairman, Vancouver Port Authority.

A series of emissions tests was carried out on eight pieces of cargo handling equipment at the Vanterm and Centerm container terminals operated by TSI Terminal Systems Inc. and P&O Ports Canada Inc. respectively. The test equipment included two rubber-tired gantries (RTGs), two top picks, two tractors and two pulp clamps. Based on the results, TSI Terminal Systems Inc. will now be using CombustAll in its cargo handling equipment at Vanterm to reduce air emissions while the VPA is using CombustAll in its fuel supply for its shore-based maintenance equipment.

In addition to its use of CombustAll for its diesel-powered equipment at Vanterm, TSI has recently agreed to purchase two prototype low emission RTGs for its Deltaport and Vanterm container terminals. These are the first RTGs to use technology similar to that in hybrid cars to reduce the amount of energy needed from the diesel engines of the RTGs. This reduction in energy demand is expected to significantly reduce harmful emissions from the RTGs.

The Port of Vancouver is participating with U.S. West Coast ports and Canadian and U.S. regulatory agencies in the West Coast Diesel Emissions Reduction Collaborative (WCDERC) to seek solutions to reduce air emissions resulting from port operations. The WCDERC is today announcing similar projects and initiatives to reduce air emissions in California, Oregon and Washington.

TSI Terminal Systems Inc. operates two container-handling terminals: Deltaport in Delta and Vanterm on the south shore of Vancouver's inner harbour. P&O Ports Canada Inc. operates Centerm, a container and pulp terminal, also on the south shore of Vancouver's inner harbour.

The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest and most diversified port, trading $29 billion in goods with more than 90 trading economies each year. Port activities generate 62,000 jobs in total with $1.6 billion in Gross Domestic Product and $3.5 billion in economic output. Last year, 66.7 million tonnes were shipped through the Port of Vancouver.

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For more information, please contact:

Anne McMullin
Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
Vancouver Port Authority
(604) 665-9069 (office)
(604) 665-9073 (fax)
(604) 218-1403 (cellular)
anne.mcmullin@portvancouver.com


For more information, please contact:

Anne McMullin,
Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
Vancouver Port Authority
(604) 665-9069 (office)
(604) 665-9073 (fax)
(604) 218-1403 (cellular)
anne.mcmullin@portvancouver.com

For more information:
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