The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Port of Oakland $277,885 to upgrade cargo-handling equipment and reduce exhaust emissions on the waterfront. The funds will be used at TraPac marine terminal, one of five terminals operating in Oakland.

Under the EPA’s National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant, TraPac will use the funds to upgrade four rubber-tired gantry cranes and a top-pick. They will be re-engineered with clean diesel engines or exhaust filters. The equipment is used in container yards to load boxes onto trucks for delivery to shippers.

According to spokesmen, these retrofits and upgrades will result in significant emissions reductions:

*94% reduction in carbon monoxide
*92% reduction in oxides of nitrogen
*44% reduction in diesel particulate matter
*41% reduction in hydrocarbons

“These reductions represent another great step towards our progress in meeting the port’s goal of reducing health risk related to diesel particulate matter emissions by 85%,” said Richard Sinkoff, Director of Environmental Programs and Planning at the port.

Similar initiatives are underway at the Mega-ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The Port of Oakland said it contacted all four terminal operating companies there about pursuing the environmental grant. Several expressed interest, but ultimately TraPac stepped forward.

The project is scheduled to be completed by December 2016.