Rotterdam conducts feasibility studies on shore power for tankers

The Port of Rotterdam authority and various partners are conducting feasibility studies on shore power at four of the port’s terminals.

PHOTO: A container ship moored in a commercial dock in Rotterdam. Getty Images

The feasibility studies are being carried out at four of the port’s largest terminals – the ECT (Amazonehaven), APMT2 (Amaliahaven), VOPAK (Vlaardingen) and the cruise terminal (Wilhelminakade). The studies cover technical analysis, environmental and social cost-benefits, tendering and permitting procedures related to setting up shore power facilities at these locations.

The study for VOPAK Vlaardingen has been carried out by the port authority, the Dutch storage terminal operator Vopak and Stolt Tankers. The consortium aims to establish a global standard for shore power for tankers. It has collaborated with DNV Maritime Advisory to identify and test technical solutions for the ship-shore interface for shore power for tankers.

As part of this, DNV completed its preliminary technical feasibility study on developing a high-voltage Onshore Power System (OPS) for tankers in June 2023.  

The studies identified that a stern connection with a crane-based cable management system (CMS) onshore or mounted on a platform or monopile in the water was the safest OPS connection. By setting up such a connection, risk is reduced as there is normally no hazardous zone in the stern area of a tanker, the study revealed. 

As part of its next steps, the consortium will set up a demo of a shore power facility at VOPAK Vlaardingen. A preliminary design for the shore power installation will also be presented. 

These feasibility studies have been co-funded by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding program, which aims to support growth by investing in energy infrastructure across Europe.

Shore power has been gaining traction across ports and ship operators globally because it helps to reduce emissions while a ship is berthed.

According to the classification society DNV, there are currently 118 facilities across ports globally that offer shore power connectivity to vessels, with 47 more planned and four under discussion.

By Manjula Nair

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