Kiel cash boost funds shore power

Construction work for the port’s first onshore-power supply plant is in progress. The plant, which will supply eco-friendly electricity to Color Line cruise vessels during the time they are berthed at the Norwegenkai Terminal, will be completed by Easter. At the same time, a Europe-wide tender for onshore-power supply plants to be installed at Ostseekai and Schwedenkai is being prepared.

Dirk Claus, managing director of the port, said: “50% of our entire investments are dedicated to environmental protection. It is our aim to cover some 60 % of the energy needed by the vessels calling at Kiel with on-shore power.”

Highly capable

The Norwegenkai onshore power plant is being built by Siemens AG at a total cost of €1.3m. When completed, it will have a maximum power rating of 4.5 Megawatts (MW) at 10 Kilovolt (KV) and a network frequency of 50 Hertz (Hz).

The largest individual port investments are the on-shore power supply plant at the Ostseekai and the brand-new second terminal for cruise passengers, amounting to €13m and €9m.

Kiel’s eco-friendly port developments are part of its ‘Blue Port’ concept to utilise and develop the port in a sustainable manner, considering climate protection, energy and resource efficiency and avoiding air and water pollution within the technical and economic limits.