Page 17 - Port of Baltimore Magazine May/June 2013

To subscribe or renew, visit www.marylandports.com May/June 2013 ■ The Port of Baltimore [15]
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Serving the Marine Industry since 1903 and 100% Employee Owned
Operators at Ports America
Chesapeake put the top loader
through its paces, making sure it
could perform the toughest tasks,
while representatives from Hyster
made sure it also achieved the
promised emissions reductions.
The tests must have gone well.
“We bought four of them in 2012,”
Howell said with a laugh, adding that
the company will buy three more this
year.
The top loader saved more than a
gallon of fuel per hour — and this is in
a machine that typically operates 3,000
hours a year. The machine has about
a 20,000-hour life expectancy, and
during that time it will produce 396
tons fewer carbon dioxide emissions,
reduce particulate matter by 2,326
pounds and reduce oxides of nitrogen
by 31,584 pounds.
“Diesel engine technology has
come a long way in helping to reduce
emissions and increase fuel efficiency.
For years, diesel-operated equipment
was considered dirty and you could
easily see the puffs of black smoke
billowing from the machines. The
improvements in the Tier 4 (i) are
so dramatic you could put a white
handkerchief against the exhaust and
it stays white,” Howell said. “The way a
Tier 4 (i) engine is designed, it’s really
become very efficient.”
Investing in the top loaders
reflects Ports America Chesapeake’s
commitment to a cleaner environment.
“This is one of the many things that
Ports America is looking at to make
better utilization of natural resources
and reduce our carbon footprint at the
Port of Baltimore,” Howell said. “We’re
constantly looking at alternative
technology.”