The Port of Helsinki launches shore power

Three vessels operated by Finnish shipping company Finnlines have connected to shore power at the Port of Helsinki’s Vuosaari cargo harbour.

PHOTO: Finnmaid vessel attached to the shore power system at the C-pier of Vuosaari harbour. Port of Helsinki

A Grimaldi Group subsidiary, Finnlines, operates Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) and passenger vessels in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.

Finnlines-operated passenger vessels Finnmaid, Finnstar and Finnlady have used shore power in the port. All three vessels operate between Helsinki port and Travemünde port in Germany, the company said.

“The shore power connection is one significant technical solution with which we can reduce ships' carbon dioxide emissions,” Thomas Doepel, vice president of Finnlines said.

Vessels needs electricity to run onboard operations and equipment while docked in the port.

“In this case, the ship does not have to keep its auxiliary engines running to generate electricity," the Port of Helsinki explains. "The use of shore power can significantly reduce the ship's air emissions in the port area, up to 50–80 percent,” it claims.

The port is also planning to install shore power units for cargo ships at Vuosaari harbour by 2026, it added.

By Konica Bhatt

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