The Hague recently announced that an installation for shore power has opened in the First Harbour in Scheveningen. Shore power is the provision of shoreside electrical power to ships and smaller craft. Large ships can connect to this power supply while at berth.
Thanks to shore power the ships can cut down on the use of their diesel generators. This eliminates air pollution and reduces the noise and vibrations while the engine is idle. Ships need to be adapted to be able to connect to the shore power. A number of ships have already done this. Shore power is not completely new in the Scheveningen harbour. It has been around longer for cutters, small fishing boats and pleasure boats.
Six connection points for shore power are available in the First Harbour: 1 on the short side of the harbour and 5 on the long side of the harbour for large fishing boats, also known as freezer trawlers. The Third Harbour has 1 connection point.
The Department of Waterways and Public Works (Rijkswaterstaat) and the shipping companies Vrolijk/Jaczon and Van der Zwan were involved in the preparations for shore power. It is the first time that shore power is available in this form and scope in the Netherlands.
The installation for shore power is a measure in the Air Quality Action Plan. The plan outlines what the municipality is doing together with businesses, residents, interest groups and the Dutch State to further improve the air quality in the city.
Source: Hague
