Guidance for Cruise Shore Power Implementation: Consideration of Today’s Trends and Technologies

Abstract: Shore-to-ship power has been in use at commercial ports for about 20 years. Initially implemented on a voluntary basis by the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach for container and cruise terminals, which then became a mandatory requirement in California, current shore power installations primarily exist on the U.S. West Coast. However, there is a new resurgence in shore power that is primarily being driven by the cruise industry, with consideration of new installations across the U.S., within the Caribbean Basin and in Europe. This new wave of shore power is being propelled by a number of factors that include: new International Maritime Organization regulations for reduction of ship carbon emissions; governmental requirements or regulations; corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Programs implemented by cruise lines and terminal operators; U.S. and European government programs providing funding for shore power; and third-party developers that are increasingly seeing the need and potential return on investment from port energy projects.

AECOM has been involved with implementation of shore power systems since about 2007, starting with supporting the Port of Los Angeles to install shore power at their World Cruise Center. Since that time, AECOM has worked on numerous shore power projects for all types of ships that have involved services ranging from feasibility studies, planning, and concept through detailed design to construction support, commissioning and owner’s representation. AECOM has been involved with cruise shore power at the Ports of Los Angeles, Galveston, Miami, Everglades, Canaveral, and New York/New Jersey, as well as projects in Canada, Hong Kong and Italy. Shore power projects have been also performed at the Ports of Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle, and Houston. These projects have been performed for port authorities, terminal operators, cruise lines and third-party developers.

The experiences from these projects are being applied to today’s cruise shore power projects to deliver optimized, cost-efficient solutions, as well as address and solve the challenges affecting implementation. These challenges include: power capacity, reliability and resilience, implementation of green energy sources, installation of infrastructure in congested port environments, procuring long lead electrical equipment, and accommodating various ship classes that have a wide-range of shore power connection locations.

This paper will: explore the history of shore power; the rationale and approaches used for early implementation in California; the current market drivers for new projects; the latest technologies being used and considered, and the pros and cons for selection of the appropriate technologies, especially for accommodating multiple cruise lines and ship classes; the challenges and constraints impacting implementation; the benefits for the environment, community and ESG compliance; and the lessons learned from these projects. The focus of this paper will be to provide guidance for implementation of shore power for cruise ships; however, it will serve as a comprehensive overview of shore-to-ship power that the port industry can use as for planning, design and construction to implement a system that provides flexibility and optimization to maximize connectivity for return on investment.

How does this project / topic contribute to the advancement of the industry and profession?: Although regulatory (IEC/IEEE 80005-1) and governmental (USEPA Shore Power Technology Assessment at U.S. Ports, 2022 Update) shore power documents are available, there is very little published guidance for implementation of shore power systems that is based on real-world experience. This existing documentation does not help guide selection of equipment or layout of infrastructure for shore power implementation. The goal of this paper is to provide a summary of the experiences and lessons learned from a wide range of actual projects from multiple locations that the port industry can use as an informative guide for planning, design and construction.

Does the project / topic implement new and innovative techniques, materials, technologies, and delivery methods?: Previous shore power projects have rarely had to address the requirements and needs currently facing the cruise industry, which is providing optimized solutions with maximum flexibility to accommodate a wide range of ship classes and connection locations. Various new technologies and equipment are being developed, some of which have rarely (or never) been implemented, that is creating many new decisions points during planning and design that is changing the approach for implementation. This paper will decipher the changes and innovations within the industry and provide guidance for decision-making to lead to successful implementation.

What was the most challenging aspect of your project / topic and how did you handle it to ensure success?: With the increasing focus on shore power, along with the availability of significant funding, many new entities have entered the port energy market. Many of these entities have limited actual shore power implementation experience. The primary challenge has been the recent influx of various new techniques, technologies and equipment now available, or being developed, within the industry. Evaluation of these changes and innovations as part of actual projects has been the most successful way to explore their pros, cons, benefits, and constraints and determine what actually does, or does not, provide solutions for implementation of shore power.

Who is the target audience for this paper?: The target audience is any entity that is currently considering, or in the process of implementing, a shore power program. This could include port authorities, terminal operators, cruise lines, and third-party developers. This paper will help provide guidance to develop a shore power program and address primary concerns, such as power alternatives to grid constraints, options for installation of infrastructure and equipment within a congested and active port environment, and solutions to provide flexibility to maximize connectivity for return on investment, while minimizing impacts to operations.