Shore power for cruise ships faces port infrastructure gap – CLIA

There are 193 cruise ships equipped to use shore power across Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) 45-member cruise lines, according to a recent report from the association.

MAP: Ports with at least one shore power connection for cruise ships. Environmental Technologies and Practices report by Cruise Lines International Association

The number has more than tripled from 55 ships in 2018, the cruise ship focussed trade body said.

Another 47 ships are planned to be retrofitted with shore power connections, while 39 newbuilds on order are expected to be delivered with the technology. This would bring the total number of shore power-capable ships across CLIA’s current membership to 279 by 2039.

CLIA’s members include major cruise operators such as Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International.

But port infrastructure has not kept pace with ship-side readiness, the report found.

Only 40 ports worldwide where cruise ships call currently have at least one shore power connection available for cruise vessels. This represents less than 3% of ports currently visited by cruise ships, according to CLIA.

CLIA said the figures show the cruise industry’s “continued investment in ship-side readiness”, but added that achieving the full emissions-reduction potential will depend on “continued investment in compatible port and energy infrastructure.”

By Konica Bhatt

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