Alternative Maritime Power (AMP)

Alternative Maritime Power® (AMP®) is a unique air quality program that focuses on reducing emissions from container vessels docked at the Port of Los Angeles.

 

Instead of running on diesel power while at berth, AMP-equipped ships “plug in” to shore side electrical power – literally an alternative power source for oceangoing vessels. While the name AMP is trademarked and exclusive to the Port of Los Angeles, the process at other ports is also called shoreside power, cold ironing, or High Voltage Shore Connection (HVSC) Systems. 

On June 21, 2004, the Port of Los Angeles announced the opening of the West Basin Container Terminal at Berth 100, the first container terminal in the world to use this technology for container ships. Nearly two months later on August 9, 2004, the Port welcomed the world’s first container vessel to be built with AMP specifications already in mind, the NYK Atlas.

In July 2012, the international HVSC standard was published. The Port was an active participant in the development of the IEC/ISO/IEEE 80005-1 international standard. The Port’s shoreside installations meet the IEC/ISO/IEEE 80005-1 international standard.

The Port of Los Angeles has invested millions of dollars equipping its terminals for AMP. As of 2024, the Port of Los Angeles has 80 AMP vaults, more than any other port in the world.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) first adopted a regulation in 2007 to reduce emissions from diesel auxiliary engines on ships while at-berth for container, cruise, and refrigerated cargo (reefer) vessels. The regulation requires that auxiliary diesel engines are shut down (i.e., instead use grid-based power) for specified percentages of fleet visits. In addition, the fleet’s at-berth auxiliary engine power generation (kW-hrs) must be reduced by the same percentages. As an alternative, vessel operators may employ any combination of technologies to achieve equivalent reductions.

 

Effective 2023, CARB adopted a new regulation to achieve further emissions reductions from vessels at-berth. The updated regulation adds roll-on/roll-off vehicle carriers and tanker vessels to the existing vessel categories regulated under the 2007 regulation. All container, cruise, and reefer vessels are required to use grid-based power or another CARB-approved emission control technology while at-berth. Auto carriers and liquid bulk vessels will be required to comply with the regulation starting in 2025.

 

Get more information on CARB's Ocean-Going Vessels At Berth Regulation at the link below.