Good signs for cleaner port

Environmentalists, who have homed in on port-related pollution to the air and harbor, can rework their numbers to project a small but welcome reduction in contamination.

Two local tugboats are being refitted with cleaner and more efficient engines, which are expected to reduce fuel consumption by nearly 30 percent, nitrogen oxide emissions by 42 percent and emission of particulate matter by 65 percent.

The $1 million project is funded in part by federal grants to the State Ports Authority and in part by Stevens Towing, which sees the upfit as a good business decision.

And after the tugs are finished, the SPA has more to come: cleaning up 57 pieces of lifting equipment, 110 trucks and a dredge boat.

A top U.S. Environmental Protection Agency official visited the port last week and praised the SPA for its efforts to reduce harmful emissions.

"When we reduce particulate matter ... we are saving human lives," Gina McCarthy said.

On a recent Commentary page, John C.L. Darby, chairman of the Trident CEO Council, said these projects are evidence of the port community's commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental safeguards.

The SPA also should keep a watchful eye on new cruise ship operations here to ensure they respect the environment.

The Coastal Conservation League recently reported about research on the cost of treating illnesses related to port pollution -- a sobering $81 million.

For its part, the port reports it has switched to ultra-low sulfur diesel on its off-road equipment. And an air emissions inventory has indicated that port operations account for about 1 percent of total fine particulate emissions in the Charleston area.

The SPA's mission is to promote, develop and facilitate marine commerce and to boost the state's economy. What the future holds was made evident by the recent port call of the giant MSC Rita, the biggest container ship ever to come here. Charleston's harbor can handle the full 48-foot draft the ship demands and is bound to be a destination for the giant class of container vessels.

Port growth is good news for this historic port city. So are the efforts to reduce and mitigate the polluting aspects of increased port activity.