Port of Gothenburg tests new shore power supply for tankers
A tanker operated by Terntank carried out testing of a new onshore power facility at the Port of Gothenburg.
PHOTO: Shore power connection for tankers in the Swedish Port of Gothenburg. Port of Gothenburg
The Swedish Port of Gothenburg is developing a new shore power facility for tankers.
Terntank’s chemical tanker, Tern Island, recently tested the high-voltage supply from this facility and conducted safety tests with live power, including “simulating power interruptions to assess the vessel's response,” according to the Port of Gothenburg.
Ensuring that tankers and shoreside power connectors adhere to a common standard across all ports is a major challenge, the Gothenburg Port Authority stated on its website.
Typically, shore power connectors are located at the back of tankers. This setup can be problematic at ports with shorter docks, as it requires expensive loading cranes and long cables, the port noted.
To address this, the Port of Gothenburg proposes relocating the loading crane to the ship’s midsection. The port added that this change would simplify shore power connections, regardless of the ship's length or docking position, and reduce costs.
“A further challenge is the ever-present risk of an explosion when the vessel is berthed at an energy terminal, as the combustible and flammable products being pumped could easily be ignited by a spark from the electrical equipment,” the port explained.
As a safety measure, the port's shore power facility for tankers uses a system called “overpressure” to maintain high air pressure in the connection area and prevent explosive gases from reaching the power connections.
By Konica Bhatt
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