Shore power first for containers in Hamburg

Testing saw the container ship MSC Athens charged with renewables sourced shore-side power during its lay time. The test was carried out jointly by HPA, HHLA and MSC with Powercon and Igus acted as technology partners in charge of converters and connectors.

“With the first successful test of the shore-side power station at CTA, we have come closer to the goal of installing modern power stations for the supply of shore-side electricity at all three HHLA container terminals in Hamburg,” said Jan Hendrik Pietsch, head of sustainability at HHLA.

“That is an important step towards climate-friendly port logistics. We are glad that our customers can thus charge their vessels during lay time with low-emission energy. This way, a further part of the supply chain can be decarbonised.”

Green potential

The potential here for decarbonisation between the partners at Hamburg cannot be understated.

MSC owns approximately 40 vessels that can be charged with shore-side electricity meaning that there could be a huge reduction in port emissions.

Along with the power station at CTA, the third shore-side power station for container ships in the Port of Hamburg is now in the transitional phase leading up to regular operations.

Additionally, the power station at HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai is expected to be ready this year. That would mean that shore-side electricity could be provided at all mega-ship berths from the end of the year. 

Further test runs have already been planned to integrate the supply of container ships with shore-side power into regular operations in the Port of Hamburg soon.