International Car Operators N.V. (ICO), a subsidiary of Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), has begun commercial operation of what it says is the first shore power facility for /roll-off (ro-ro) vessels in Belgium, at the Port of Zeebrugge.
Following a test phase in early June, during which technical specifications were validated, the first vessel — a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) operated by NYK — was connected to the system and supplied with electricity from the terminal. According to ICO, this also marks the first time the NYK Group has used shore power for a PCTC at berth.
The facility currently has the capacity to supply power to one vessel at a time, with potential for future expansion. ICO says it also provides the necessary connections and cabling, enabling vessels without onboard shore power infrastructure to use the system.
The project received partial funding through a grant from the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VLAIO).
Alain Guillemyn, managing director of ICO, commented: “This investment confirms ICO’s ambition to play a pioneering role in a sustainable and competitive port environment, both in Belgium and internationally.”
Founded in 1984, ICO handles more than 2.5 million vehicles annually across terminals in Zeebrugge and Antwerp, serving automotive brands and ro-ro shipping companies.
