Carnival Corporation & plc is progressing with the electrification of cruise port infrastructure in Whittier, Alaska, as part of a broader programme aimed at reducing emissions from ship operations while alongside.
The project, undertaken in cooperation with the State of Alaska and the Chugach Electric Association, will allow vessels operated by HAL-Holland America Line and Princess Cruises to connect to the local electrical grid and suspend the use of onboard engines during port calls. The works include upgrades to the port’s electrical systems, the installation of voltage step-down equipment adjacent to the berth, and the integration of shore-side connections capable of supporting both vessel operations and auxiliary uses such as electric vehicle charging.
Construction commenced in 2023 with combined funding of approximately US$12 million, and key components, including transformers and capacitor systems, have already been delivered as the project advances toward its anticipated completion in 2027.
Company representatives indicated that shore power forms a central element of its long-term decarbonisation strategy, with the objective of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from ship operations by 2050. It was further conveyed that the investment reflects an intention to preserve the environmental conditions that underpin the Alaskan cruise experience, while continuing a partnership model that dates back more than two decades to earlier shore power developments in Juneau.
The Whittier initiative forms part of a wider expansion of shore power capability across the fleet and global port network. Carnival Corporation was among the earliest adopters of the technology in the cruise sector, having introduced it in 2001, and now reports that a significant proportion of its vessels are equipped to utilise shoreside electricity where available.
By enabling ships to draw power from land-based sources while in port, the system reduces reliance on marine fuel for auxiliary operations, with the potential to eliminate emissions during berth periods depending on the energy mix of the local grid.