Posted on May 18, 2021
Cruise liners at berth traditionally run their fossil fuel powered generators 24/7, creating terrible air quality problems for the port cities that host them. This project is part of a major EU funded initiative by Infrastructure Malta to electrify the entire harbour and reduce harmful portside ship emissions by 90%.
Mikael Norin, Cavotec CEO said: “Our ShorePower technology provides the perfect clean air alternative needed for historic ports such as Valletta. With almost a million ship-bound tourists arriving every year, it is vital that the city can provide an environment they can enjoy.
“ShorePower will provide clean energy to cruise liners within minutes of their arrival. This deployment could be the blueprint for many historic port cities around Europe. Cities such as Venice, Lisbon, and Malta all rely on a large proportion of sea-borne tourism traffic. We hope this contract will be the first of many as it proves how effective our ShorePower solutions can be.”
Cavotec’s ShorePower solution has been designed to meet the specific requirements of the Valletta Port and connect vessels over their entire port length. It includes the innovative mobile cable management system, PowerMove, to provide ship-to-shore connectivity. The PowerMove units are connected to the island’s energy infrastructure to power vessels while in port.
Four of the PowerMove units are designed to travel 45m along a vessel’s berth, from the shore socket box to the vessel connection point. The fifth will extend a record length, spanning more than 55m, to meet the specific requirements of the Deep Water Quay.
A remote-controlled telescopic arm adjusts to match the tide changes and the location of the power connections on cruise ships. The PowerMove units can provide power to cruise vessels independently of their electrical requirement: 6.6 KV or 11Kv, in 50Hz or 60Hz. In doing so, the units meet the variety of cruise ship configurations that utilise the port facilities.
