EU funding for clean air project

Infrastructure Malta secured the €21.9m Connecting Europe Facility funding to implement the first phase of the Grand Harbour Clean Air Project (GHCAP), designed to cut air and noise pollution from vessels at the Grand Harbour (Port of Valletta).

The first of this two-phased project includes a €37m investment to provide shore power, also known as cold ironing, on the five main cruise ship quays of the Grand Harbour by the of end 2023.

Phase one

Infrastructure Malta will install two frequency converter stations and lay a new 22km underground and subsea cable network to distribute electricity from Enemalta’s nearest primary substation (distribution centre) in Marsa, to Pinto Wharf (three quays), in Floriana, the Deep Water Quay, in Marsa and Boiler Wharf (one quay), in Senglea. Shoreside transformers and shore-to-ship connection panels will link this network to the vessels to be able to switch off their engines as soon as they berth.

The second phase of the project will extend shoreside electricity to Laboratory Wharf and Ras Hanzir (Fuel Wharf), in Paola. These two quays can also be used by ro-ro ships.

Infrastructure Malta is currently reviewing the offers received to identify the contractor who will be supplying the equipment and civil works necessary to implement this project.

In the first phase of the GHCAP, it is anticipated cruise liners visiting Valletta will emit 93% less nitrogen dioxide, 92.6% less particulate matter and 99.6% less sulphur dioxide. The first phase will also cut 39.6% of the cruise liners’ carbon dioxide emissions.