Port of LA secures $31 million for emission-cutting harbor craft

In California, Daily Breeze reported The Port of Los Angeles announced a $31 million grant from the California Air Resources Board to demonstrate emission-reduction technologies on harbor craft, in collaboration with Catalina Express and Harbor Breeze Cruises.

The project, named the Los Angeles Marine Emission Reduction project, includes replacing three older ferries operated by Catalina Express with a single new vessel equipped with Tier 4 engines. Tier 4 engines, the EPA’s strictest standard for marine diesel engines, use advanced technologies like selective catalytic reduction and diesel particulate filters to reduce nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions. The new ferry will run on renewable diesel and is expected to deliver both environmental and operational efficiencies.

Harbor Breeze Cruises will design and deploy two zero-emission-capable excursion boats. These vessels are expected to operate in zero-emission mode at least 30% of the time, with some trips reaching 100% depending on route and conditions.

Catalina Express and Harbor Breeze will each contribute $15 million to the project, supported by $650,000 from the Los Angeles Harbor Commission and $340,000 from the Port of Long Beach. The project will evaluate these technologies’ feasibility, infrastructure needs, and workforce training for the next generation of harbor craft.

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