Open this photo in gallery A terminal worker prepares to connect a docked container ship using shore power. SUPPLIED

Last year, 147 million tonnes of cargo moved through the Port of Vancouver, enabling the trade of $240-billion in goods – such as clothing, electronics and lumber – to and from Canada. The container ships that move some of these goods weigh thousands of tonnes and use diesel engines for power.

Now imagine you could plug in these ships.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Transport Canada, together with help from partners including BC Hydro, GCT Canada and DP World Vancouver, have recently introduced shore power for container ships at the Port of Vancouver. This technology allows vessels to turn off their auxiliary diesel engines while docked at two of the area’s container terminals: Deltaport, operated by GCT Canada, and Centerm, operated by DP World Vancouver.

While a sophisticated set-up, shore power is relatively simple. It’s a lower emission technology that provides ships fitted with the necessary technical apparatus the ability to shut down their auxiliary engines and connect to the land-based electrical grid, reducing emissions from diesel engines while docked.

And the environmental impact of this kind of technology is encouraging.

Each time a large container ship connects to shore power while at a dock for 60 hours, up to 95 tonnes of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions can potentially be eliminated, which amounts to taking up to 20 cars off the road for one year, according to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.

The $14-million project needs two elements to be successful: the technology installed at the port terminals and the ships to have the ability to connect to this technology. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has the first part of the puzzle completed and is confident that as the technology and shore power connections become more mainstream, many more ships will get on board.

A study completed in 2009 by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority revealed that a good number of ships would most likely be equipped with shore power capability by 2020 – and Vancouver wanted to be ready.

Open this photo in gallery A terminal worker prepares to connect a docked container ship using shore power. SUPPLIED

Right now, around 34 per cent of container ships coming into the Port of Vancouver are fitted to use shore power; however, because the technology is not a one-size-fits-all system, not all of those ships are capable of connecting to Vancouver’s infrastructure. But with international shore power standards recently established, more ships are becoming equipped with the right gear to enable the usage of the shore power hookups. It also helps that more ports, such as those dotting the shorelines of California, use shore power.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority offers incentives for those that use shore power such as discounts on harbour dues for shore power-enabled vessels. It’s expected that the number of ships plugging in at Vancouver’s terminals will increase significantly in the coming years.

After all, it’s been working for the cruise ship industry for the last decade.

In 2009, the Canada Place cruise ship terminal was the first in Canada and the third in the world to offer shore power for cruise ships. Since then, 583 tonnes of air pollutants and 20,780 tonnes of greenhouse gases have been eliminated.

The move toward shore power is all part of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s efforts to protect the environment and reduce the impact from shipping activities. “We have a vision to be the world’s most sustainable port,” says Duncan Wilson, vice-president of environment, community and government affairs at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “For us, that means economic prosperity through trade, a healthy environment and thriving communities.”

Through the EcoAction Program, for instance, the port authority offers harbour fee discounts of up to 47 per cent to vessels that take voluntary steps to decrease underwater noise and reduce emissions.

“As trade continues to grow, so too does the importance of our work to ensure Canada’s largest port will be ready to handle this trade, delivering on Canada’s trade aspirations, while protecting so many of the attributes that make our region such an attractive place to live, work and play,” Mr. Wilson says.

To learn more about shore power for container and cruise ships, visit www.portvancouver.com/shorepower.

Advertising feature produced by Globe Content Studio. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.