Cruise ships arrive in Halifax on a daily basis for a large part of the year, releasing a significant amount of people and pollution into the city while they are docked at the port. Brent Dancey, the director of marine climate action at Oceans North, mentioned the visible blue cloud of smoke that can often be seen around the port area. Similar concerns have been raised by residents in Halifax and other Canadian cities like St. John’s.
One solution to address this issue is shore power, which allows ships to connect to the local electrical grid instead of relying on burning fuel to power the ship while it is stationary. This technology has the potential to reduce harmful emissions produced by ships burning heavy fuel oil and marine diesel oil, which include fine particulate matter and greenhouse gases. Shore power enables ships to access on-shore electricity by connecting to the necessary infrastructure.
The benefits of shore power include a reduction in pollution and a decrease in the climate impact of the shipping industry, which contributes to about three percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Countries like the European Union have made shore power mandatory in certain jurisdictions to combat these environmental issues.
Despite the availability of shore power in some Canadian ports like Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Montreal, and Halifax, not all ships utilize it due to various reasons such as alignment issues with the dock, cost considerations, and lack of incentives. While some major ports worldwide have extensive shore power coverage, Canada still has room for improvement in this area.
Regulations in regions like the EU and California are pushing for increased adoption of shore power to reduce emissions and promote sustainability in the shipping industry. The International Maritime Organization has set ambitious goals for the industry to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The importance of shore power in future ports is becoming increasingly evident, with upgrades and expansions being planned to accommodate this technology for a cleaner and more competitive maritime sector.