STAX Engineering has signed a pioneering deal to provide emissions capture services to tankers calling at Shell’s Mormon Island terminal in the port of Los Angeles from next year, a crucial hub for handling and distributing Shell’s petroleum products.
The maritime emissions capture and control provider STAX Engineering has entered into a five-year agreement with Equilon Enterprises LLC d/b/a Shell Oil Products US (Shell), coinciding with new California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions regulations for tanker vessels.
These regulations take effect on January 1 for tankers docking at the port of Los Angeles and port of Long Beach, extending to all California ports in 2027.
The terminal will operate approximately 1,600 hours per year under the new agreement and anticipates treating more than 150 tons of emissions over the agreement’s lifetime.
STAX’s emission capture and control solution offers an alternative to shore power for emissions reduction for tankers.
The company, which is already servicing container vessels and auto carriers in California, is growing rapidly since its launch in the first quarter of 2024.
Until now it has secured exclusive service deals at the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Hueneme, Benicia, Richmond, and Oakland.
It has also partnered with NYK Line and Hyundai GLOVIS.
“This agreement is a significant milestone in our mission to provide affordable and accessible solutions to port communities, helping them achieve their environmental goals without disrupting operations. As we expand our presence in California, we look forward to bringing our technology to ports across North America and beyond,” said Mike Walker, chief executive officer, STAX.
STAX claims it can remove 99% of particulate matter (PM) and 95% of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from all exhaust funnelled into its system before the exhaust is released as purified gas.
To date, STAX has treated at-berth vessels for a cumulative of 4,800 hours and 37 tons of pollutants controlled.
