Photo Opportunity: Skaubryn Vessel

Vancouver, September 14, 2005: The Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) and Seaboard International Shipping Company Ltd. (Seaboard) have received promising results from tests conducted on a sea-going vessel indicating that the use of fuel additive, CombustAll, reduces harmful air emissions discharged from ships.

CombustAll was tested in the diesel engines of Seaboards vessel The Skaubryn, on a voyage from Vancouver to Japan in July 2005, and on a separate voyage from San Francisco to Vancouver Island in September, 2005. Results showed the following:

• reduction in emissions of particulate matter (PM) of 45.5%
  
• reduction in emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) of 5.9%
  
• reduction in emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) of 5%

These pollutants are all major contributors to smog and air pollution in the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD). Similar tests were conducted earlier in 2005 on the diesel generators of the Skaubryn while at berth, with equally positive results. When combined, these results equate to the following reductions in tonnes of pollution being released into the air each year by a single vessel:

Reductions in Mass Emissions
(data in metric tonnes per year)

Gen Sets: -16.5 CO (MT/yr) -9.5 NOx (MT/yr) -0.5 PM (MT/yr) -2.9 SOx (MT/yr)
Main Engine:-2.3 CO (MT/yr)-14.6 NOx (MT/yr)-5.6 PM (MT/yr)-10.1 SOx (MT/yr)
Total:-18.8 CO (MT/yr) -24.1 NOx (MT/yr)-6.1 PM (MT/yr)-13.0 SOx (MT/yr)
*Reductions listed above include time at sea and in port. The Skaubryn spends approximately 30 days a year at port in Vancouver.

"We're pleased with the results," says Captain Gordon Houston, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver Port Authority. "Protecting the environment is one of the ports core values, and we embrace new technologies and solutions which can help us reduce the impact that the port may have on the overall air quality of the GVRD. As trade volumes through the Port of Vancouver continue to grow, the Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) and the port community continue to work to find solutions that reduce environmental impacts from industry."

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. Improved efficiency not only extract additional energy from each unit of fuel but reduce several airborne pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter.

"As a member of the shipping community and the Lower Mainland community, we strive to find ways to improve the environmental impacts of our operations," says Mel Bjorndal, Vice-President, Shipping, Seaboard International Shipping Company Limited. "These results prove that we can reduce emissions, specifically particulate matter, thus improving overall air quality. The initial tests show that our costs did not increase as a result of this change. At this stage we plan to expand the use of the additive to our other vessels while in port."

CombustAll is also currently being utilized in the VPA's maintenance department and at the ports Vanterm container terminal in its diesel-powered equipment as part of the VPA's Integrated Air Emissions Program to reduce the overall contribution that the port makes to air emissions in the GVRD.

The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest and most diversified port, trading more than $43 billion in goods with more than 90 trading economies annually. Port activities generate 69,200 jobs in total with $4 billion in Gross Domestic Product and $8.9 billion in economic output.


Photo Opportunity:

Board the Skaubryn, a 42,000-ton deadweight Roll on / Roll off sea-going vessel, while docked in North Vancouver for the following visual opportunities:

• Above and below-deck images of the Skaubryn
  
• The city of Vancouver and surrounding area from the deck of the Skaubryn
  
• Representatives from the VPA, Seaboard and CombustAll will be available for photographs and interviews

Date: Wednesday, September 14
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Western Stevedoring Building (grey building) at the East Gate of Lynnterm Terminal, North Vancouver
RSVP: To confirm that you wish to board the vessel contact Bronwyn Stubbs, 604.771.8037

*Note: Please bring valid picture ID


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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

Mel Bjorndal
Vice-President, Shipping
Seaboard International Shipping Company Ltd.
604.990.3051 (office)
604.990.1951 (fax)
melb@seaboardintl.com

For more information:
For more information on any of these stories, call 1-888 PORTVAN.
Or, send an email to:
public_affairs@portvancouver.com