OOCL Committed to Reducing Emissions with AMP Container

What is AMP?
AMP (Alternative Maritime Power) is also known as ‘Cold Ironing’ or ‘Shore Power’. The basic idea is that when a ship is at berth, in order to reduce emissions in the Port, the ship’s auxiliary generator engines are shut down so that no exhaust gas emission comes from the engines. To power the ship at berth, the wharf is installed with (electricity) power supply facilities.


What is the AMP Container and why use it?
The AMP (Cable Reel) container is a standard 40’ container containing a 6,600 volt Power Cable Reel, Cable Reel Control Panel and High Voltage Shore Connection Panel. For cost efficiency and optimum utilization of resources, we plan to place a single AMP (Cable Reel) Container in Long Beach Container Terminal. This container would then be shifted and placed on board upon berthing of each calling ship.

Why put the equipment in a container?
The first application of AMP saw the equipment installed on a floating barge. The idea of putting all the equipment in a container emerged due to the safety concerns of using a floating barge – dangerous proximity to ship’s stern and time-consuming handling of lifting the heavy power cables to the berthed ship by cherry picker before connecting to ship’s main power switchboard.

What will OOCL's AMP container look like?


To draw attention to this innovative container and therefore to the Company’s commitment to Environmental Protection, we have given it a modern radial plum blossom design. Blossoming in winter, the flowers of the plum tree have come to symbolize endurance, strength and beauty. The plum blossom therefore symbolizes the strength of our company.

How does it work?
The Cable Reel consists of 2 pairs of Power Cables, 1 pair are to plug in the 6,600 volt Power Supply Sockets at the wharf and another pair are to plug in the ship’s 6,600 volt Power Receiving Sockets through which the shore power is transmitted to ship’s main power switchboard panels – to distribute power to various areas and equipment of the ship. The generator engines on the ship are shut down until ship departure when the AMP Container is then disconnected and shifted back to storage.


When will we place AMP container at LBCT?
We have 2 AMP containers ready to be placed at LBCT but these are currently being tested with the shipboard systems of our 8,888TEU new buildings and 13,200TEU under construction or to be built. We will place an order for a third AMP container which is scheduled to be placed at LBCT in the 2nd half of 2013.


This is OOCL Green Week which is held annually during the first week of July in 55 countries around the world. It highlights the importance of environmental protection in the communities where OOCL staff live and work. OOCL colleagues in 280 global offices participate in environmental and sustainability-related activities in the local areas surrounding their offices.



The 2013 OOCL Green Week theme is “Going Green for Sustainability”.