Port of San Diego and The Pasha Group Achieve Major Clean air Milestone with Full Shore Power Availability
The Port of San Diego has reached a significant milestone in its commitment to cleaner air and sustainable maritime operations: all four of its marine terminals now offer shore power capabilities. This includes the two cargo facilities at the National City and Tenth Avenue Marine Terminals, and the two cruise terminals at B Street and Broadway Piers. The Port was among the first in the nation to implement shore power for ocean-going vessels, initially installing the technology in 2010.
This achievement directly supports the Port’s Maritime Clean Air Strategy, a comprehensive plan to improve environmental and public health through reduced emissions from maritime activity. It also fulfills requirements outlined in the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) At-Berth Regulation,wich mandates that roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessels utilize either shore power or an exhaust capture control system – frequently enough referred to as a bonnet – while at berth. The National city Marine Terminal is now equipped with both technologies.
A key partner in this progress is Pasha Automotive Services, the operator of the National City Marine Terminal. A division of The Pasha Group, a family-owned company with 35 years of operation at the Port of San Diego, Pasha Automotive Services runs the most advanced vehicle import/export facility on the West coast. The terminal processes approximately 400,000 vehicles annually, sourced from Europe, Asia, and Mexico. Pasha Hawaii, a sister company, provides U.S.-flagged ro-ro and container ship transport between the U.S. and Hawaii.
The Port of San Diego continues to lead the way in adopting clean, zero-emission technologies. Other notable achievements include being the first port in North America to deploy all-electric mobile harbor cranes, the first in the country to operate an all-electric tugboat (operated by Crowley Marine), and among the first to implement a renewable-powered microgrid system at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.additionally, the Port was the first on the West Coast to see a tenant, Dole, deploy battery-electric utility tractor rigs (UTRs) for cargo handling.
These investments are yielding measurable results. Since 2021, the Port and its partners have committed over $227 million to maritime electrification and zero-emission initiatives. The Port’s 2024 Maritime Air Emissions Inventory demonstrates significant improvements compared to 2019 levels, including:
* A 46% reduction in diesel particulate matter (DPM) emissions.
* A 32% reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions.
* A 10% reduction in greenhouse gases (CO2e).
Funding for these initiatives has been partially provided by the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust for California, administered by the California Air Resources Board. The Port of San Diego’s ongoing commitment to innovation and collaboration positions it as a leader in sustainable port operations.
