posted 07-27-2001 08:16 AM                    

JUNEAU (July 25, 2001) The use of shore power by Princess Cruises was
officially begun yesterday in Juneau, marked by a special ceremony launching
this innovative, first-of-its-kind project.
Demonstrating its commitment to help clear the air of visible smoke
emissions, Princess Cruises is turning off the diesel engines of its ships when
they dock at the Franklin Street Dock this summer. The first program of its
kind in the world, the project required an investment by Princess of $4.5
million, and the coordination of a complex array of technical resources around
the world as well as in Juneau.
This unprecedented program sends a strong message that Princess cares
deeply about the local concerns regarding visible haze accumulation in Juneau,
said Charlie Ball, president of Princess Tours. Because we want to continue to
be welcomed as a responsible summer visitor, we've committed significant
financial and technical resources to this complex engineering challenge. Ball
explained that Princess recognized Juneau's unique climatic condition and
geography help contribute to the accumulation of haze and smoke, and that only
extraordinary measures would resolve the problem.
Four of the five Princess ships this summer are using the South Franklin
Street Dock, where a sophisticated power distribution system has been built,
enabling the ships to connect to local surplus hydroelectric power provided by
Alaska Electric Light & Power (AEL&P). As a complex and successful testing
process concludes, the ships' diesel engines will be shut down upon arrival in
Juneau, and power from a special transformer installed ashore will be used
to supply electric power for the running of all onboard services during the day-
long calls.
Each Princess ship has been outfitted with a new hull door, a custom-built
state-of-the-art electrical connection cabinet with equipment that automatically
connects the ship's electrical network to the local electrical network ashore.
The electrical power is transmitted from the transformer ashore to the vessel
via four 3 -inch diameter flexible electrical cables that hang festooning-style
on a special gantry system built on the dock. The gantry and the festooning
equipment have been designed to accommodate the 20 feet rise and fall of the
tide and withstand the 100 mph winds during the winter. The actual cable
connection on the vessel is a traditional, though quite large, male/female plug
and socket, adapted from the American mining industry.
In the future, to ensure that visible emissions are minimized, Princess
will also be shutting down each ship's oil-fired steam boiler even though the
amount of emissions from these are quite small. The steam will be produced by a
shoreside electric boiler, currently being installed.
The City and Borough of Juneau has allocated $300,000 from the 2001 Cruise
Passenger Fees as a contribution to the cost of the shore power installation.
That makes the community of Juneau a partner in this effort, said Ball.
As part of the agreement with Princess, AEL&P was not required to pay the
capital cost of the service connection, and the amount Princess pays AEL&P for
the surplus hydroelectric power will go into a special fund that would
contribute to deferring the cost of diesel-generated power required during the
winter months.
This was an incredibly challenging project because it was the first of a
kind and there was no existing blueprint we could use. Thanks to the efforts of
a worldwide team of technical contractors, suppliers and consultants, including
many here in Juneau, we now have a program in place that we believe will
make a difference here, and will show the residents we care about the
environmental issues that are important to all of us, said Ball.
Next summer, all five of Princess' ships will connect to shore power at the
Franklin Street Dock, including the company's new Star Princess, which is in the
final phase of construction and is being outfitted with the special connection
equipment.