Emissions-busting shore power system launches

CMA CGM Group’s APL Singapura inaugurated the shore power facilities, also known as cold ironing facilities, at the Terminal des Flandres in the Port of Dunkirk. The system will become fully operational during the first half of 2020.

Stéphane Raison, chairman of the Port of Dunkirk’s executive board, commented: “Our decision to develop this particularly innovative solution allowing container ships to plug into onshore power at the Terminal des Flandres is in line with the pro-active environmental policy that the Port of Dunkirk has been pursuing for many years.”

Capacity of 8MW

Actemium, a consortium of companies Brest and Boulogne, was selected to carry out the work. This included the design and supply of a cold ironing system that fits into six 40ft containers, converting the public electricity supply for use by ships at port. With capacity of 8MW – enough to power nearly 1,000 homes – this system is one of the most powerful ever to be installed in Europe.

The operation was co-financed by the Urban Community of Dunkirk, the Hauts-de-France region (via the European Regional Development Fund), and the Port of Dunkirk. The CMA CGM Group covered the cost of the equipment needed to connect the vessel, in line with its efforts to support energy transition in the shipping industry.

Christine Cabau Woehrel, executive vice president in charge of industrial assets at CMA CGM Group, said: “We are ready to test this system with other European port authorities that are committed to using cold ironing at their container ship terminals, as the Port of Dunkirk has successfully done.”