Power Station at 10th Avenue Marine Terminal to Open Monday

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled tomorrow for a $4.25 million shore power station at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.

The equipment will allow ships to plug in to get power so they won't have to run their air-polluting diesel engines while docked. The result, according to the Port of San Diego, should be cleaner air for residents of Barrio Logan.

The California Air Resources Board has required ports to install the shore power systems for refrigerated vessels and cruise ships. The Port of San Diego says it plans to add a second station at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal in the future.

The Dole Ecuador is expected to be the first vessel to plug into the new system.

The 96-acre facility is used by ships importing produce to the western U.S. Port officials say the Dole Fresh Fruit Company imports 185 million bananas monthly through the terminal.

Last year, the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal and National City Marine Terminal, which takes automobile imports, received 475 ship calls between them, according to the port. There are no current plans to add a shore power system at the National City facility since the ships that dock there don't fall under the state air board's guidelines, according to the port.

—City News Service