Cruise ships calling on Halifax will now have the opportunity to use shore power so they can shut down their engines while at the pier.
The 10 million dollar project was announced this morning by Defense Minister Peter Mackay, former Nova Scotia Finance Minister Graham Steele and Halifax Port Authority president Karen Oldfield.
Mackay says the Federal Government will contribute 5 million dollars and the Nova Scotia Government and Port Authority will contribute two and a half million dollars each.
All three emphasize the environmental benefits of the project.
When the new shore based power facility is in place, it will have the capability of servicing only one cruise ship at a time.
Oldfield says it’s not being provided to the port’s two container terminals because container ships that call on Halifax are not capable of using the technology.
