Onshore power now available for container ships in Hamburg

27 May 2024

Suppy of renewable energy for cruise and cargo ships - pioneering role for Port of Hamburg

Container and cruise ships can now avail of onshore power from renewable energy sources during the lay over in the Port of Hamburg, a press release said Monday (May 13, 2024). Around EUR 13 million were invested in developing the onshore power supply over a two-year period. Apart from Hamburg, the German government is paying 50 per cent of the costs. Various test runs were done with different systems and ships. The "Vasco de Gama"l, operated by the French shipping company CMA CGM, became the first cargo vessel to tank up onshore in the Container Terminal Hamburg (CTH).

Nationwide onshore power supply from 2025

"From 2025, all large cruise and container terminals in the Port of Hamburg will have onshore power connections. This is unique in Europe and an important step towards reducing CO2 and pollutant emissions in the Port of Hamburg,” said Dr Peter Tschentscher, Mayor of Hamburg. The plant at CTH will provide onshore power to the terminal's three mega-ship berths and has connections with a capacity of 7.5 MVA each. The Hamburger Energiewerke feeds electricity from renewable energy into the public grid.

Advancing sustainable shipping

The Hamburg Port Authority is finalising contracts for the use of onshore power. The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has also reaffirmed its commitment to onshore power for container ships. More onshore power systems are to be launched at the Container Terminal Burchardkai and in Altenwerder. By extending onshore power to container shipping, Hamburg is providing new impetus for decarbonising Europe's port industry. “Together with shipping companies, port and terminal operators, we are on the way to more sustainability in shipping,” said Dr Melanie Leonhard, Senator of Economics and Labour.
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