Portsmouth International Port has awarded ABB an order to supply a shore power connection solution for visiting ferries and cruise ships as part of the Sea Change project.
The project aims to design, build, and operate a shore power system across Portsmouth port’s three busiest berths. The shore connection system by ABB, expected to be operational by Q2 2025, will reduce carbon dioxide emissions for vessels calling at the port by an estimated 20,000 metric tons from 2027.
This move supports the port’s environmental goals, targeting net-zero by 2030 and becoming the UK’s first zero-emissions port by 2050.
ABB’s shore connection allows vessels to turn off their engines while at berth, improving air quality in the harbor area. The project is part of the Zero Emissions Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition, funded by the UK Government and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.
This project will support the council’s priority of improving air quality across the city by slashing emissions, and will ensure Portsmouth International Port continues to be a trailblazer in the field of environmental innovation.
… said Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for the port at Portsmouth City Council
The Sea Change project includes a consortium of organizations, including Brittany Ferries, and is supported by over £80 million in government funding allocated to 10 flagship projects focused on clean maritime solutions.
To be selected as technology provider for this UK Government-funded project is a privilege and reflects our reputation as a trusted provider of shore connection capabilities for cleaner port operations.
… commented Marcus Martelin, Head of Decarbonization Services, ABB Marine & Ports
