Houston to upgrade to Tier 4 Advanced Powertrain Technology

The US Port of Houston Authority has authorised $500,000 for the Tier 4 Marine and Locomotive Advanced Powertrain Technology Programme that aims to substantially decrease air emissions from local marine and locomotive sources. Tier 4 technology will advance the Tier 3 standard and provide significant reductions in the amount of soot, nitrogen oxide and carbon emissions in diesel exhaust, compared with the current Tier 2 standard.

The port authority is coordinating this project in a public/private partnership including GE Transportation, FEV, Inc., Southwest Research, and the Houston Advanced Research Centre, to accelerate the development, deployment and implementation of next-generation Tier 4 engines for use in marine vessels and locomotives that meet new federal clean engine standards.

The estimated cost for the entire program is approximately US$78m. GE Transportation has committed US$20m in matching funds, and the port authority and other partners are seeking grant funding from various state and federal programs for the remaining costs.

The project will be a first for Texas and reinforce Houston as a centre for original air quality technologies, backed by business and government incentives.
(Source:www.container-mag.com)