So how big an extension cord do you need for an entire cruise ship, anyway?

Everybody who's ever been on an interstate behind a tractor-trailer knows that diesel engines create visible, stinky pollution. And cruise ships, when docked, rely on diesel engines to generate power for the ship. So it's welcome news that both Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line will instead be plugging into shore-side electrical power in pollution-prone Los Angeles.

They'll shut off their diesel engines when docked, starting in 2008 when the required equipment is installed in LA. Ship upgrades are also required.

The technical term for the process is cold-ironing, but fancy terminology aside, it does simply amount to plugging the ship into a shore-side outlet with a massive electrical cord. This same technique has been used successfully in the port of Juneau, Alaska for several years by Princess.

If anyone out there has an actual photo of the connection, we'd love to see it!