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The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority aims to provide shore power connection to ships calling Subic port by 2025
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The initiative is in line with SBMA’s program to make Subic Bay Freeport Zone the first carbon-neutral economic zone in the country
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It is also in compliance with MARPOL Annex VI and Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships
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The project is seen to cut air pollution from ships at berth by 95%
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For the first phase, the project will require funding of about P100 million and for the second phase covering 2026 to 2027, P150 million
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The first phase will be implemented at the Subic port container terminal and the second phase at the Naval Supply Depot and ship repair facility
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) aims to provide shore power connection to ships calling Subic port by 2025.
The initiative is in line with SBMA’s program to make Subic Bay Freeport Zone the first carbon-neutral economic zone in the country and in compliance with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ship (MARPOL) Annex VI, SBMA deputy administrator for operations Ronnie Yambao told media at the sidelines of the recent 3rd Subic-Clark Business Conference by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines.
MARPOL Annex VI, which the Philippines acceded to in 2018, is intended to prevent pollution of the air by seagoing ships.
The shore power connection project also complies with the United States’ Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, which implements MARPOL Annex VI on US-flagged ships wherever located and on non-US flagged ships operating in US waters.
SBMA chairman and administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño told PortCalls at the sidelines of the same event that said ships can use the shore power connection—which will use renewable energy—instead of continuously running on bunker fuel while at berth. The project is seen to cut air pollution from ships at berth by 95%.
Aliño said the target is to start the project by 2025.
The project will require an estimated P100 million for its first phase while the second phase will need P150 million slated for 2026 to 2027.
The first phase will be implemented at Subic port’s container terminal while the second phase will be at the Naval Supply Depot and ship repair facility.
Yambao said the project has been presented to the Office of the President for consideration and will be approved under the 2025 General Appropriations Act.
Aside from the shore power connection, SBMA last February launched a new state-of-the-art vessel traffic management system (VTMS) to improve port management efficiency as well as safety and security of ports at Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
The new VTMS replaced the previous one installed in 2008 and which has been in operation for more than 15 years.
SBMA is also eyeing various port expansion projects worth an estimated US$878 million in anticipation of future demand at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
Aliño, in a presentation during the Central Luzon Transport & Trade Conference 2024 organized by PortCalls last May, said these projects include the expansion of the Subic container terminal, a new multipurpose terminal in the Redondo Peninsula, a new multipurpose terminal at Lower Mau, and a new cruise terminal. – Roumina Pablo
