The offshore vessel KL Sandefjord, owned by K Line Offshore AS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” Line), became the first offshore vessel with the DNV GL class notation Shore Power.
The Shore Power notation verifies the design and installation of a vessel’s on-board electrical shore connection. When in port, the vessel can shut down its engines and rely on a shore-based electrical supply for its needs at berth, the so called “cold ironing”.
As explained, by tapping into an onshore electrical supply, vessels not only reduce their fuel consumption, but they also eliminate the associated emissions, improving the air quality in the port and surrounding environment, cutting PPM, NOx, SOx and reducing CO2 by using more efficient shore-based electricity.
In combination with renewable energy sources, electrical supply can even result in zero emission operation for the duration of a vessel’s stay in port. In addition, it can free the engines for maintenance, reduce wear and tear, and limit noise.
“There is an increasing awareness of the impact of shipping emissions in ports and this is driving investments in cold ironing,” says Jon Rysst, Senior Vice President and Regional Manager North Europe, DNV GL. “As access expands, alongside the rise of fully electric and hybrid vessels, cold ironing could soon become standard procedure in many ports around the world – with a noticeable positive impact on air quality.”
The Shore Power notation ensures a safe and efficient way of performing the connection and disconnection of shore power.
K Line Offshore plans to apply for the Shore Power class notation for the sister vessel as well, KL Saltfjord.