The ABP-managed (by Associated British Ports) Port Southampton (England UK) celebrated the successful commissioning and use of the shore-power facility for cruise vessels.
For zero-emissions at berth, shore power-enabled vessels can now plug in at the port’s Horizon Cruise Terminal & Mayflower Cruise Terminal.
AIDA’s AIDAcosma and Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 can use the shore power connectivity. Further ships are scheduled for commissioning later this month and throughout 2022, including Celebrity’s Celebrity Beyond, which makes her maiden call at the port this month, and NCL-Norwegian’s Norwegian Prima, which will make a number of calls in the summer & autumn.
The total shore power project cost was GBP 9 million, supported by a grant from the Solent Local Growth Deal, arranged via Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
In 2019, ABP Southampton announced it was investing in shore power for its Horizon Cruise Terminal, subsequently unveiling a 2nd shore power connection, for Mayflower Cruise Terminal, in 2021. Associated British Ports worked with Powercon as the major contractor to implement the scheme on site.