Cruise Port Rotterdam shore power installation commissioned
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After a construction period of 22 months, the Cruise Port Shore Power installation was officially opened on 31 March, 2025, on the Holland Amerikakade. The official inauguration was performed by Robert Simons, Alderman for Port & Economy, and Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of Port of Rotterdam Authority. This makes the ms AIDAnova the first cruise ship to use shore power in Rotterdam. With the commissioning of the shore power installation, Cruise Port Shore Power is staying ahead of European law, which stipulates that all cruise ships in European ports must use shore power by 2030.
The shore power installation was built by Danish company PowerCon in collaboration with Port of Rotterdam Authority, the municipality of Rotterdam, STEDIN, IGUS and project partners J.P. van Eesteren, Heijmans, Royal HaskoningDHV and Xylem on behalf of Cruise Port Shore Power. The Rotterdam installation is innovative and one of a kind. In addition to the shore power installation, a 230-meter-long cable duct has been installed in the quay, along with a new type of connection vehicle. The cable duct provides a flexible connection point along the entire 230 meters. Because the location of a shore power connection differs for each ship, this is a very practical and innovative solution.
The composite, flexible-use support vehicle is small and therefore easy to use. The cable duct ensures that there are no obstructions or disruptions from cables on the quay. The cooling system of the shore power installation, like the cooling system of the cruise terminal, is cooled using water from the river Maas. The installation involved installing a separate 1.5-kilometre sustainable electricity grid connection from Maashaven to Wilhelminakade.
Robert Simons, Alderman for Port & Economy: “Cruise ships are a valuable source of income, and by disconnecting them from the power grid, we are improving the air quality and reducing noise pollution. That is good for the quality of life and our economy. I am proud of this result and would like to thank everyone who worked towards this.”
Boudewijn Siemons, CEO Port of Rotterdam Authority: “We are proud and delighted that the shore power installation has been put into operation today. After an intensive construction period, we are today taking an important new step in making the port of Rotterdam and the city more sustainable. Shore power for cruise ships is a crucial and necessary part of this.”
In Rotterdam, people are working hard to make the city and port more sustainable. The shore power installation for cruise ships is a unique sustainability project realized at the interface of city and port. Innovation, planning, cooperation and safety were central to the realization of the project. The project was carried out while the cruise terminal was operational and cruise ships were docking at the quay on a weekly basis. Cruise Port Shore Power expects to be able to connect 75 percent of the cruise ships in Rotterdam to shore power in the first year. Using shore power reduces not only CO2, but also nitrogen and particulate matter emissions. On top of that, noise levels from docked cruise ships also decline significantly.