Docked ships use electricity from shore for cleaner air

Yichang, a port city at the mouth of the Yangtze River in Hubei province, is offering shore power to ships berthing at its docks to reduce the noxious gases emitted by on-board generators.

More than 60 docks in the city have been equipped with shore power facilities so that docked ships can plug in and sailors don't have to turn on generators for electricity.

Li Xingheng, a worker at the power company responsible for providing the shore power, said this approach is more energy-efficient than generators. Also, shore power spares people in the ships from the noise and vibration of generators, he said.