After a construction period of 22 months, the Cruise Port Shore Power installation on the Holland Amerikakade was officially opened on 31 March. The cruise ship AIDAnova was the first cruise ship to use shore power in Rotterdam.
The official inauguration was performed by Robert Simons, Alderman for Port & Economy, and Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of Port of Rotterdam Authority. With the commissioning of the shore power installation, Cruise Port Shore Power is staying ahead of European law, which stipulates that all cruise ships in European ports must use shore power by 2030.
Watch a video about the new shore power installation below (English subtitles available).
The shore power installation was built by Danish company PowerCon in collaboration with Port of Rotterdam Authority, the municipality of Rotterdam, STEDIN, IGUS and project partners J.P. van Eesteren, Heijmans, Royal HaskoningDHV and Xylem on behalf of Cruise Port Shore Power.
Also read: Ships at APMT MVII plug into shore power from 2028
Cable duct and connection vehicle
The Rotterdam installation is innovative and one of a kind. In addition to the shore power installation, a 230-metre-long cable duct has been installed in the quay, along with a new type of connection vehicle. The cable duct provides a flexible connection point along the entire 230 metres. Because the location of a shore power connection differs for each ship, this is a very practical and innovative solution.
The composite, flexible-use support vehicle is small and therefore easy to use. The cable duct ensures that there are no obstructions or disruptions from cables on the quay. The cooling system of the shore power installation, like the cooling system of the cruise terminal, is cooled using water from the river Maas. The installation involved installing a separate 1.5-kilometre sustainable electricity grid connection from Maashaven to Wilhelminakade.
Also read: Port of Rotterdam trials shore power in containers
75 per cent of cruise ships to use shore power
In Rotterdam, people are working hard to make the city and port more sustainable. The shore power installation for cruise ships is a unique sustainability project realised at the interface of city and port. Innovation, planning, cooperation and safety were central to the realisation of the project. The project was carried out while the cruise terminal was operational and cruise ships were docking at the quay on a weekly basis.
Cruise Port Shore Power expects to be able to connect 75 per cent of the cruise ships in Rotterdam to shore power in the first year. Using shore power reduces not only CO2, but also nitrogen and particulate matter emissions. On top of that, noise levels from docked cruise ships also decline significantly.
Picture (top): The AIDAnova being connected to shore power. Visible are the cable ducht and the new connection vehicle (photo by Port of Rotterdam Authority).
