Hamburg is a European pioneer in shore-side power supply, and after several years of successfully supplying cruise ships in the Port of Hamburg with shore-side power, the technology is now also being used for cargo ships. This makes the Port of Hamburg the first port in Europe to offer shore power for both container and cruise ships.
Today, the “Vasco de Gama” (IMO 9706889) of the CMA CGM Group, the global player for sea, land, air and logistics solutions, became the first container ship to be regularly supplied with shore power at Container Terminal Hamburg (CTH). This was preceded by numerous tests with different systems and ships. In the future, container ships will also be able to draw electricity from renewable sources on land while at berth, instead of running the ship’s engines. The technology needed in ports is being developed, while shipping companies are creating the conditions on board.
Dr Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor: “Hamburg is the first port in Europe to offer shore power for cruise and container ships. From 2025, all large cruise and container terminals in the Port of Hamburg will have shore power connections. This is unique in Europe and an important step towards reducing CO2 and pollutant emissions in the Port of Hamburg.
Together with shipping companies, port and terminal operators, we are on the way to more sustainability in shipping. The Port of Hamburg can rely on long-standing and reliable business relationships with valued partners. Cooperation between the various players is essential to promote decarbonisation and the spread of technology.
…Hamburg’s Minister of Economic and Labour Affairs, Dr Melanie Leonhard.
Emmanuel Delran, Vice President Operations Efficiency, CMA CGM Group: “By supplying ships at berth with shore power, we are jointly making another important contribution to cleaner air and lower greenhouse gas emissions in the Port of Hamburg. The CMA CGM Group is committed to reducing its emissions and is working towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Many of our ships calling at the Port of Hamburg are ‘dual-fuel’ LNG vessels, which means they can also use bio-/E-methane to further reduce emissions and improve air quality in the port.
As explained, the plant, which will operate at CTH, will provide shore-side power to the terminal’s three mega-ship berths and has connections with a capacity of 7.5 MVA each. It will supply the ships with renewable energy from the public grid, supplied by HEnW. A total of around €13 million was invested during the two-year development period; in addition to Hamburg’s share, the German government, through the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, contributed 50 per cent of the costs. The Hamburg Port Authority is currently concluding contractual agreements on the use and conditions with the shipping companies entitled to use the shore-side power, building on existing agreements (Memorandum of Understanding) with customers of the port of Hamburg.
In parallel, earlier this month, Montrose Port Authority (MPA) in Scotland also made remarkable progress by launching Scotland’s inaugural shore power service for offshore energy supply vessels, further underscoring the global momentum towards sustainable port operations and emissions reduction.
During the 2023 GREEN4SEA Athens Forum, Theodosia Digalaki, Technical Product Manager, ERMA FIRST, shared her perspective on reducing carbon footprint with shore power.
