As various marine sectors continue to make progress in the application of electrification, E&H Marine looks at what cruise operators and their suppliers are doing to bring electric power to these large-scale vessels – and the ports that welcome them.
Shore power capability inaugurated in Valletta
The MSC World Europa officially inaugurated Valletta port’s shore power facility in July, making the Maltese capital’s shore power capability the first to be operational in the Mediterranean Sea. Valletta’s local power grid supplied electricity for all operations on board the 22-deck, LNG-powered vessel while the ship was berthed, to enable all engines to be switched off and eliminate direct emissions at the port.
“Shore power is one very important element of our continued commitment toward decarbonization, with most of our fleet equipped to eliminate local emissions and improve local air quality when the ships are at berth in port, and we can switch off their engines as local shoreside electricity powers the operation,” says Michele Francioni, chief energy transition officer at MSC Cruises.
MSC Cruises aims to add at least 15 new ports to its shore power plan between 2024 and 2026. Among them are Barcelona and Valencia in Spain, Hamburg in Germany, Marseille in France, Copenhagen in Denmark, and Genoa, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples and Trieste in Italy, plus the company’s new cruise terminal in Miami, which will become fully operational in 2025.
Concordia Damen to deliver hybrid river cruise vessel to Swiss operator
Dutch shipyard Concordia Damen has signed a contract for the delivery of a River Cruise 135 vessel to a Swiss luxury river cruise company. The new ship will have hybrid propulsion for reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions, high insulation, laser-controlled ventilation and environmentally friendly materials used for the outfitting.
Concordia Damen has opted to build the River Cruise 135 to stock, with the next vessel already in the early stages of being built. After the hull is completed, the cruiser can be adapted in many ways to suit individual customers’ needs.
“We are excited to partner with this leading Swiss operator to deliver our innovative River Cruise 135,” says Johan Muilenburg, project manager at Concordia Damen. “This contract underscores our commitment to eco-friendly practices and excellence in shipbuilding. One of the features I like best is the fact that we’ve integrated solar panels in the railing, which are instrumental in charging the battery system. Another is that we’ve proven that this design needs significantly less power to sail under normal circumstances – a real fuel- and cost-saver.”
The new River Cruise 135 is being outfitted with diesel-electric propulsion with smart peak shaving, a system being delivered by the yard’s long-time partner and system integrator, Oechies. Triton, the solution from Damen for data-driven efficiency, remote monitoring and predictive maintenance, adds extra operational reliability and reduced fuel consumption.
“We’ve integrated solar panels in the railing, which are instrumental in charging the battery system”
Johan Muilenburg, Concordia Damen
ABB modernizes MS Amera with DC technology and shore connection
Germany-based cruise operator Phoenix Reisen has modernized the 205m, 835-passenger MS Amera. The vessel is now equipped with ABB’s Onboard DC Grid power system platform and shore connection for improved efficiency and safety and lower emissions. Following successful commissioning and sea trials, Amera has become the first cruise ship to be retrofitted with the ABB technologies.
The project involved replacing the vessel’s AC system with modern DC technology. Onboard DC Grid (a DC-based power distribution system) enables simple and cost-effective integration of energy sources and loads in a lightweight, compact setup. Benefits include safer and more efficient vessel operations thanks to the system’s high fault tolerance. In addition, the ship is futureproofed as it can be equipped to allow efficient integration of new, low-carbon energy sources such as batteries and fuel cells. This will also support operations in emission control areas such as the Norwegian fjords.
“Our aim is to be a leader in sustainable cruising, providing unforgettable travel experiences in some of the world’s most beautiful locations while protecting fragile local ecosystems,” says Johannes Zurnieden, founder and CEO of Phoenix Reisen. “We are working toward more efficient and environmentally friendly operations across our fleet, and having completed the modernization of Amera together with ABB, we are confident we are on the right track to achieve this.”
ABB’s shore connection system will help Amera reduce emissions when in port. Typically, shore connection can help reduce the daily emissions of cruise ships by 35% when they are docked eight hours per day. The onboard power setup will be managed by ABB’s integrated power and energy management system, which will ensure optimal use of the vessel’s power resources.
“At ABB, we are fully committed to working with customers toward electrification. Modernization projects, in this case converting the complete powerplant from AC to DC and integrating shore connection technology, play a significant part in those efforts,” says Tomas Arhippainen, head of marine service and digital at ABB Marine & Ports. “Amera is the first cruise ship to be retrofitted with Onboard DC Grid, making this a milestone project for us, Phoenix Reisen and indeed the cruise industry as a whole. This project proves that the benefits of increased efficiency and safety are available not only for new-build but also for existing vessels.”
Carnival Conquest becomes first cruise ship to charge at PortMiami shore power connection
An industry partnership between Miami-Dade county, Florida Power & Light Company and several cruise lines (including Carnival) has seen PortMiami become the first major cruise port on the US eastern seaboard to offer shore power connections at five cruise berths. Carnival Conquest was chosen as the first vessel to use the new charging connection.
“This is an important milestone for our hometown and we’re proud to support Miami-Dade county mayor Daniella Levine Cava and all county and port officials in their amazing partnership in bringing shore power to PortMiami,” says Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We continue to implement important initiatives that have kept us ahead of our ambitious goals to reduce emissions, and this new shore power capability will allow our ships to rely on the electrical grid to power our ships while in port.”
“Using shoreside electricity in port is an integral part of our global strategy to reduce GHG emissions and minimize our environmental footprint”
Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer, Carnival Corporation
“Using shoreside electricity to power our ships in port is an integral part of our global strategy to reduce GHG emissions and minimize our environmental footprint,” says Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation. “It’s been over 20 years since our company first pioneered shore power for the cruise industry, yet adoption remains limited to just 2% of cruise ports worldwide. We applaud PortMiami for having the vision to recognize shore power as vital to the future of our industry and the planet, and for being at the forefront of their peer group in delivering this capability to cruise ships.”
AIDAdiva inaugurates the first Swedish shore power plant for cruise ships at the Port of Stockholm
In July 2024, the AIDAdiva docked in Stockholm and used the first cruise ship shore power plant to go into official regular operation in Sweden. The system took two years to develop and build, with Aida Cruises involved as a project partner.
“Aida Cruises is the first cruise line to start using shoreside electricity in Europe,” says Dirk Inger, the company’s SVP of public affairs, communication and sustainability. “With our shipboard investments in this technology, we are actively supporting the European Union’s goals to build a shoreside power infrastructure in ports of the Trans-European Transport Network by 2030.”
In April 2022, Aida Cruises signed a declaration of intent with Cruise Baltic, a network of 32 ports and destinations, to use shore power in the ports of the Baltic Sea region. Shore power has been available in Rostock-Warnemünde and Kiel in Germany since 2021, in ports in Norway and the UK since 2022, and in Denmark since 2023. Since 2024, all Aida ships departing on cruises from German ports can be supplied with shore power during their laytime.
In addition to the use of shore power and LNG as important bridging technologies, Aida Cruises is expanding the use of alternative energy sources to operate its ships. As part of Carnival Corporation, the company is aiming for net zero emissions in ship operation of its fleet by 2050.
This article was originally published in the September 2024 issue of Electric and Hybrid Marine Technology. To view the magazine in full, click here.
