Cruise ship shore power

From 2030, it will be a legal requirement for sea cruises to use shore-based power but the port wants to be a leader in the energy transition so has speeded up its installation at the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam for both sea and river cruises.

“With the installation of ship-to-shore power, we are working on improving the air quality in the area and making cruises more sustainable,” said Dorine Bosman, chief investment officer at the Port of Amsterdam.

“We are also going to be more selective in which sea cruises we allow. From 2024 onwards, older ships will no longer be allowed to dock at the PTA. Ships that can connect to ship-to-shore power as from 2025 will be given priority to dock at the PTA.”

The Port of Amsterdam has started the design phase together with grid operator Liander, with the priority to lay the power cable for use in early 2025. The design of the installations is also under way.

It is expected that the European tender process will start after the summer ready for the 2025 cruise season. The possibility of using the available power for other purposes, such as charging infrastructure, is also being explored.

Clean Shipping Vision

The installation of shore-based power at the PTA is part of the Clean Shipping Vision – the port’s pathway to greater sustainability. By 2050, vessel traffic in the Port of Amsterdam should be completely emission-free.