Polar Tanker, Inc.'s Shore Power Initiative / Leading the way in maritime sustainability

In the continually evolving maritime industry, the pursuit of safety, sustainability and innovation are critical objectives.

After establishing a safe implementation plan, Polar Tankers, Inc., a subsidiary of ConocoPhillips, has been retrofitting its fleet to connect to high-voltage shore power in Southern California, reducing emissions while at berth. This three-year collaboration with terminal operator Marathon Petroleum Company LP aims to enhance air quality by using shore-supplied electricity for vessel operations during cargo discharge.

“The Polar Tankers Shore Power Initiative is a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to enhance environmental responsibility,” said Global Marine & Polar Tankers General Manager Christopher Bulera. “Integrating shore-power capabilities into our fleet allows us to significantly reduce emissions while our vessels are docked, not only minimizing our environmental footprint but also supporting the health and well-being of the neighboring communities.”

Polar Tankers, Inc. recently completed site acceptance testing for the first modified vessel, validating the new technology. Coordination ensured safe operations with the shore-based power team, vessel crew and system. Live testing confirmed effective performance in real-world scenarios, including cargo discharge at full capacity while connected to shore power.

“The successful deployment of the onboard shore power system exemplifies the application of high-standard engineering solutions with our industry peers,” said Polar Engineering Manager Kyle Boucher.  “While the use of shore power is more common in other maritime industry sectors, its use on tankers is rare, but emerging as the industry continues to make foundational steps towards standardizing the safe use of this new technology. Until now, Polar vessels required the use of large diesel engines to provide enough power to support cargo operations."

With the high-voltage shore connection, the Polar Tanker vessels can shut down their engines while docked at the Marathon Petroleum facility in the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach, cutting air emissions at berth.

Polar Tankers’ approach is focused on leading the maritime industry in innovation, performance and safety. Innovation is at the heart of Polar Tanker, Inc.'s operations. The company's fleet of five Endeavour Class Tankers were the first U.S. flag crude oil carriers designed and built for the Alaskan Trade in compliance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA90).

These vessels revolutionized American crude carrier design with their double hulls, twin rudders, and fully redundant twin independent engine rooms, ensuring safe and efficient operation in the challenging Alaskan trade sea and weather conditions.