MSC Cruises ship inaugurates shore power facility in Valletta

A cruise ship operated by cruise shipping company MSC Cruises connected to shore power at the Port of Valletta in Malta this week.

PHOTO: MSC Cruises ship connected to shore power in the Port of Valletta. MSC Cruises

Valetta’s local power grid supplied electricity to the cruise ship, MSC World Europa, while it was berthed, allowing all engines to be switched off. This operation marked the inauguration of the port's shore power facility, which is “the first to be operational in the Mediterranean Sea,” MSC Cruises claims.

By the end of 2024, MSC Cruises aims to have 16 of its 22 vessels equipped to receive shoreside electricity at ports, targeting 220 shore power connections across destinations in China, Norway, Germany, the UK and Malta.

Shore power or cold ironing has been gaining traction across port and ship operators globally to reduce emissions while a ship is berthed.

Last month, Port of Helsinki launched shore power, while MSC signed a deal with Hamburg Port Authority to provide shore power for its container ships at the Hamburg Container Terminal. Also in the same month, first cruise ship connected to shore power in Miami.

By Tuhin Roy

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