Last year, greenhouse gas emissions at Port Metro Vancouver were reduced by more than 8,400 tonnes comparied to 2009 as 82 ships connected to electricity while docked, rather than running their engines.
Surrey-based Patton & Cooke Co. helped make this happen.
“We were the first manufacturer of this technology and are now part of the worldwide committee that ensures proper equipment at ports around the world,” said Gary Ronald Smith, Patton & Cooke's president and CEO. “When they plug in, because they're taking power from the shore, they can work on their motors and do a lot of maintenance on the ship without burning fuel.”
Last week Patton & Cook received a n international trade award from the Surrey Board of Trade for its work.
Patton & Cooke Co. has also helped developed ship-to-shore plug-in technology for navy vessels. But in that case the flow is reversed.
“With the navy it's the total opposite. They're nuclear ships. They plug into shore and put power into the grid,” Smith said.
