Shoreside power proposal for Southampton

The measures to improve air quality, which do not include a charging zone, were suggested within its newly published Proposed Business Case, ahead of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee on the Clean Air Zone on 16 January.

ABP Southampton Director Alastair Welch said: “Whilst air quality has been improving for many years in the city, we were pleased to see that the council’s latest data shows the improvement has been greater than previously forecast and that the required NOX levels will be met without the need for city-wide charging.

“At the port we will continue to deliver on our air quality strategy to ensure air quality continues to improve. As part of this work we are working with the council and government as we seek to progress the possibility of shore power at the Port of Southampton.”

The council has previously undertaken work with partners to introduce cleaner fuels and equipment at the port.

Labour Councillor for Southampton and Cabinet Member for Green City Steve Leggett said that there will shortly be a “Green City Charter which will address a range of environmental issues, including an aspiration to cut NOx pollution to 25ug (micro) by 2025 and to become a carbon neutral city by 2040.”

The port published its first Air Quality Action Plan last year and is already working with the cruise sector to assess the viability of shore power.

Since 2018, it has been working with Carnival UK in a bid to make Ocean Terminal the UK’s first carbon neutral cruise terminal, beginning with the installation of more than 2,000 roof-mounted solar panels.

It is in the process of upgrading the terminal to accommodate larger ships, including LNG vessels, and is engaged with Veolia UK to manage waste.