Identifying Actions to Prepare Electricity Infrastructure in Seaports for Future Power Supplying Cruise Ships with Energy from Land

Joanna Kizielewicz,Katarzyna Skrzeszewska

doi:10.3390/en14238173

Abstract

Cruise ships are unfortunately at the infamous forefront of the means of maritime transport emitting the largest amounts of harmful substances into the atmosphere and aquatic environment. At the initiative of IMO and the European Union, formal restrictions were introduced regarding the level of harmful emissions on the high seas and in ports generated by seagoing vessels. To meet these challenges, shipowners have invested in various technological solutions on their ships to reduce the number of harmful emissions, and by ordering new vessels; they promote the use of pro-ecological solutions related to energy saving and eliminate environmental harm. However, despite the actions taken by shipowners, seaports unfortunately lag behind the challenges and expectations of the market and are still not prepared, for example, to power the ships moored in ports with shore-side energy to reduce the environmental pollution when the ships are at berth. The aim of this paper is to identify actions taken by seaport authorities to prepare electricity infrastructure in seaports to power vessels with energy from the land. Key legal restrictions concerning reduction in pollutions emitted from ships in the ports are also described and analyzed. The results of the study also show the approach of seaports to the issue of Onshore Energy Supply for cruise ships. The research was conducted among the selected ports in the Baltic Sea Region where cruise ships are accepted. The following research questions were formulated: (1) What legal regulations oblige seaports and shipowners to reduce the level of pollutions emitted into the environment? (2) Do the ports use a benchmark to assess the level of harmful emissions when defining the amount of port fees for cruise shipowners? (3) How are cruise ships powered in the port? (4) What investments are planned in the port regarding the infrastructure related to the diversification of shore-side electricity for the ships? The studies were conducted by using a few research methods, i.e., the desk research method, the exploration method, and the CAWI Computer Assisted Web Interview. The results of this research can provide an interesting source of information both for cruise ship owners and cruise seaport authorities, but also potentially for shipyards where new vessels are constructed.

Highlights

The significant environmental pollution in coastal regions [1] caused by ships moored in ports [2], including cruise ships, has made port city authorities and seaport authorities look for effective solutions to counteract these phenomena [3]
Port city authorities and seaport authorities within the Baltic Sea Region recognise the issues regarding the increasing environmental pollution and nuisance to local communities resulting from cruise ship traffic
The ports of Stockholm and Helsinki do not intend to invest in this type of facility for cruise ships, rather offering onshore energy supply for ferries, but it should be noted that the technical requirements for ferries are much more modest [44]

Summary

Introduction

The significant environmental pollution in coastal regions [1] caused by ships moored in ports [2], including cruise ships, has made port city authorities and seaport authorities look for effective solutions to counteract these phenomena [3]. One of the effective solutions involves preparing seaports to render services related to the provision of Onshore Power. This solution has been known for a long time, but until now it has not been widespread and appreciated when it comes to the beneficial effects for the environment. Replacing the ships’ power supply system with the energy from an onshore facility—rather than from the ship’s engine room—exerts a beneficial effect primarily on reducing the level of CO2 [4,6] and NO2 [7] pollution, and on reducing the frequency of vibrations and the noise level in the port. The costs of energy from port [8,9]

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