Work has officially got under way to construct a shore power installation at the cruise terminal at the Zweedse Kaai in Zeebrugge.
From early 2027 onwards, cruise ships docking there will be able to switch to green electricity from the shore. Not only will this reduce quayside emissions to zero, but the odour nuisance and visual disturbance caused to local residents, passengers, and crew will be significantly less…
…Port of Antwerp-Bruges is building an Onshore Power Supply (OPS) and a new high-voltage substation at the cruise terminal at the Zweedse Kaai in Zeebrugge. This means that the port will be ready to provide shore power to two cruise ships simultaneously by 2027 – three years before shore power becomes compulsory in 2030. The works to construct the facility have now started, so the first ships will be able to connect during the first half of 2027. Meanwhile, plans are already on the table for a second installation.
The shore power installation forms part of a broader renovation of the Zweedse Kaai that includes a new terminal building with boarding bridges, a battery system and the redevelopment of part of the quay into green space. These modifications will not only increase operational efficiency, but also the livability of the surrounding area.
At the moment, the Zweedse Kaai accounts for about 5% of the CO₂ emissions from all ships at the quays in Antwerp and Zeebrugge because the cruise ships at the quay generate electricity using diesel generators. Shore power does away with those emissions locally and also reduces odour nuisance and visual disturbance caused by the generation of smoke…
…The shore power project forms part of Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ ambition to be climate neutral by 2050. In parallel to that scheme, investments are also being made in alternative fuels for tugs, additional electrification, energy-efficient buildings and circular economy projects. Shore power will also help shipping companies fulfil the climate commitments of the International Maritime Organization and the EU in a cost-effective way…
(For information about operations in Belgium, contact GAC Belgium at [emailprotected])
