On October 30th, 2025 the cruise ship MSC Poesia became the first vessel to connect to the newly commissioned shore-power network at the Pointe de Floride cruise terminal of HAROPA PORT in Le Havre.
The landmark event marks a turning point in the port’s energy-transition programme and underpins the larger cruise-terminal development project by GIP Le Havre Croisières.
The shore-power facility was realised through a joint investment of EUR 32 million by HAROPA, the French State and the Normandy Region.
The installation comprised three main infrastructure components: approximately 3 km of underground 20 kV high-voltage cable, a 1 200 m² substation hall housing conversion and distribution equipment, and deployment of two Cable-Management System vehicles to manage ship-to-shore connections.
As part of the commissioning, MSC Poesia plugged into the new system at the Pierre Callet quay and operated on shore electricity, enabling the ship’s diesel generators to be shut down while alongside.
HAROPA has stated that the system will be extended by 2026 to serve the Roger Meunier and Joannes Couvert quays, bringing all three berths at Pointe de Floride into the shore-power network. The full implementation is forecast to avoid between 15,000 and 20,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually and reduce noise and vibration in the port area.
GIP Le Havre Croisières described the connection as aligned with its vision for a modern and sustainable cruise port. Its managing director noted that the milestone investment positions Le Havre to offer more sustainable calls for cruise lines, their passengers and the surrounding territory.
With this first plug-in, Le Havre becomes the first port on France’s Atlantic coast to offer shore power for cruise ships, setting a precedent for other ports seeking to decarbonise their passenger-ship operations.