Portsmouth Completes First Commercial Cruise Shore-Power Link

Portsmouth International Port has completed its first commercial cruise shore-power connection. Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady took electricity from the UK port’s newly operational system while berthed. The port announced the connection on Aug. 5, following final testing that brought the installation into full operation in July.

A ferry plugged in at the same time. Brittany Ferries’ Guillaume de Normandie was connected alongside Valiant Lady. Portsmouth said the two-vessel operation showed the working capacity of its multi-berth shore-power infrastructure.

A cruise ship and a ferry connected at once

Valiant Lady used shore-side electricity instead of onboard auxiliary engines during the port stay. Guillaume de Normandie’s simultaneous connection made it the first time Portsmouth had supplied two vessels through the system at once.

The installation is designed for both cruise ships and ferries. The port has tied the project to its plan to become the UK’s first zero-emission port by 2050.

The shore-power project received funding from the UK Department for Transport and Innovate UK. Portsmouth did not publish a project cost or electrical capacity rating in the Aug. 5 announcement.

At-berth emissions are the target

For equipped vessels, shore power can reduce emissions associated with auxiliary engines while a ship is alongside, including NOx, SOx, particulate matter and CO2. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reported overall pollutant reductions of up to 98% under favorable conditions, while noting that results depend on the grid electricity mix and that boilers and other onboard systems may still operate during a port stay.

Portsmouth expects the system to be capable of connecting three vessels simultaneously later this year. The port did not announce a date for the first three-ship operation.