Princess Cruises made history when the line introduced its revolutionary shore power programme and commenced operations via a partnership with the City and Borough of Juneau AK and Alaska Electric Light & Power Company in the summer of 2001.
20 years later when Princess ships arrive at the Franklin Dock, they still “plug in” to local surplus hydroelectric power and turn off their diesel engines, thus reducing the impact of visible air emissions and the company’s carbon footprint.
The 20th-anniversary was recognized as Princess Cruises' ship Majestic Princess made her maiden call to Juneau port and commissioned to connect to the electrical grid of the port city. Princess Cruises President Jan Swartz, Alaska Electric Light and Power Company President & General Manager Connie Hulbert, Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon, City Manager Rorie Watt, and Majestic Princess Captain Dino Sagani, were in attendance.
For the past twenty years, every dollar spent by Princess Cruises for purchasing electrical energy in Juneau AK has been credited to a cost of power adjustment/COPA account. The credit is used to offset diesel expenses in the next quarter, and extra funds go back to businesses and residents in the form of a rebate on electric bills. This has benefitted the community by US$8.5 million dollars to date.
Shore power/“cold ironing,” enables vessels to connect to local electric power and turn off diesel engines. The specialized shoreside equipment includes a specially designed transformer, as well as a sophisticated system of cables, control circuits, and circuit breakers. Shore-based electricity runs all onboard services during the calls.
To create the unusual power system, Princess Cruises has outfitted all 14 of its liners with custom-built hardware and automation that connects the electrical network of the ship to the local electrical network ashore.