Forklift News - MARINE TERMINALS CORP LAUNCHES LPG-POWERED CARGO MOVERS

LOS ANGELES, USA -- Citing increasingly stringent air quality regulations, Marine Terminals Corp (MTC) has put five liquid petroleum gas (LPG), or propane, yard hustlers into service at the Evergreen America Corp container terminal at Port of Los Angeles.

The low-emission yard hustlers, capable of moving 25 tons (55,000 pounds) of cargo around the terminal and to or from nearby rail yards, are an unusual application of off-road, alternative fuel technology.

MTC is the first company in California to purchase clean fuel technology through the state's Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program, a program providing financial incentives for heavy equipment owners to reduce emissions.

The fund pays for the additional cost of an alternative-fuel engine compared to a traditional diesel engine, which in MTC's case, was an extra US$11,000 for each yard hustler. In total, each yard hustler cost US$70,000, including assistance from the Moyer fund.

With between 1500 and 2400 containers moved each day, the benefits of using LPG are considered a giant step for the industry in moving cargo in an environmentally friendly way.

MTC operations vice president Captain John McNeill said the company was always exploring new ways of staying at the forefront of technology on the waterfront.

"We are committed to investigating and trying new methods of creating a better environment while increasing productivity," he said.

California Air Resources Board executive officer Michael Kenny applauded MTC for its decision to use LPG for its new hustlers.

"The ... Moyer program was designed specifically to help businesses convert to cleaner-operating equipment and away from vehicles that burn high-polluting, toxic diesel fuel," he said.

Some advantages over diesel that LPG enjoys include its reduced emissions, its relative cost advantage, its higher density, increasing kilometres per litre, and engine preservation, due to its low use of carbon and oil contaminants.

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