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Q&A
Discussion on shore power implementation for Manhattan Cruise Ship Terminal
1:41:53
ยท
4 min
Council Member Bottcher inquires about the implementation of shore power at the Manhattan Cruise Ship Terminal, emphasizing its importance for reducing toxic emissions in Hell's Kitchen. Andrew Kimball responds by explaining the current progress and challenges faced by EDC.
- EDC is pursuing a master plan for the cruise ship terminal
- The plan includes preparing for additional electrical grid capacity and substation needs
- EDC is working with Con Ed to ensure power capacity and determine substation siting
Erik D. Bottcher
1:41:53
Thanks.
1:41:56
As you know, obtaining shore power for the Manhattan Cruise Ship Terminal is one of my top priorities and it's so important for our residents because when cruise ships are docked, their diesel generators are running and they emit toxic fumes that waft into our neighborhood, specifically Hell's Kitchen.
1:42:24
And we've been working closely with you on this and recently the plan changed somewhat when EDC decided that you are now going to pursue a master plan for the cruise ship terminal to plan for the next seventy five years of receiving cruise ships at those terminals.
1:42:48
And that pushed out the timeline for when we can expect ships to be able to plug in when they're in port.
1:42:58
I understand that this summer you're gonna be coming to us with this, a master plan for these cruise ship terminals.
1:43:08
What can be done now, and I know we're gonna be meeting about this in the near future, what could be done now with respect to preparing for shore power?
1:43:21
Because we know that additional capacity will be needed on land for the electrical grid, substation capacity.
1:43:32
What can start now rather than waiting for the master plan to come together?
Andrew Kimball
1:43:39
Yes.
1:43:40
I appreciate your advocacy on this, and this is something that ports all over the world are moving fast on and also struggling with because this is relatively new technology.
1:43:55
We have made some big steps forward and it's it's too bad that council member Avila said to leave, but we're in constant contact with her about the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal and implementing a mobile harbor jib that can access most of the boats coming in there with shore power.
1:44:15
And we expect by the summer to have the infrastructure in place so that all ships can can plug in.
1:44:24
What's different there than at Manhattan Cruise is there is a very significant substation already on-site bringing the power.
1:44:33
So what we've been doing actively is working with Con Ed to make sure that there is capacity.
1:44:40
We have gotten positive responses there.
1:44:44
Now the question is citing for where this substation will go.
1:44:49
I know that we have said we want to make sure that this is done within the context of a master plan because one of the things we discovered when we were seeking the sighting previously with Con Ed is understanding that the subsurface conditions at 88 and were deteriorating quicker than we thought.
1:45:08
Hence, we've got a master plan this thing together and make sure the substation is going in the right place in the context of that master plan and frankly also line up all of the money that we will need to do, which will be include both a new public sector ask, but also an ask, significant ask of the private cruise operators, not just on the per passenger fees that we've discussed with you, but a significant capital investment in exchange for a long term lease.
1:45:37
So I appreciate that there has been a delay.
1:45:41
I'm not sure that in reality it's as long as it might seem, in order to get the master plan done before we go ahead and procure, on the substation, but we will be back to you in a few months on this and we understand that it's a very high priority of yours in the community.