STAX Starts Emissions Capture and Control Services for Automotive Carriers at Berth at the Port of Benicia

STAX Engineering, a developer in maritime emissions capture and control, has inked a service agreement with AMPORTS, North America’s automotive ports logistics and processing solutions provider, to offer its services to all auto carriers berthing at the Port of Benicia.

AMPORTS handles roughly 260,000 imported vehicles annually at the port, and about 20% of the vehicles are imported by sea into California.

“Addressing at-berth exhaust emissions is an opportunity for many vessel owners and operators, as well as the greater Benicia port community, to be environmentally responsible,” said Vee Kachroo, CEO of AMPORTS.

STAX offers land- and barge-based, mobile emissions capture and control technology to shipping terminal and fleet operators for a nominal hourly fee. The patented, flexible exhaust capture system is designed to fit all ships without modification, even in the most congested ports. 

Once captured and funneled into the STAX system, the exhaust is filtered, removing 99% of particulate matter and 95% of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) before being released as purified gas. 

STAX has treated 62 at-berth vessels for a cumulative of 3,200 hours and 23 tons of pollutants controlled and counting.

STAX, a grantee of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), is the only provider authorized to service container vessels and auto carriers in California. Service for auto carriers started in early April 2024 and is available wherever STAX is present. 

NYK Line has partnered with STAX to service its auto carrier vessels at the Port of Benicia and other ports around the state. STAX serves the Ports of Benicia, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Oakland.

“While our sights are set on California in the near term, we hope to expand our presence across North America and abroad as quickly as possible,” said Mike Walker, CEO of STAX.