Shore power savings

Cavotec has been awarded a contract by Nidec ASI as part of its €12 million deal to provide ShorePower to five cruise liner berths at the harbour. The project is part of a major EU funded initiative by Infrastructure Malta to electrify the entire harbour and reduce emissions.

“ShorePower provide clean energy to cruise liners within minutes of their arrival. This deployment could be the blueprint for many historic port cities around Europe,” said Mikael Norin, CEO, Cavotec.

“Cities such as Venice, Lisbon, and Malta all rely on a large proportion of sea-borne tourism traffic. We hope this contract will be the first of many as it proves how effective our ShorePower solutions can be.”

Bespoke solution

Cavotec’s ShorePower solution has been designed to meet the specific requirements of the Valletta Port and connect vessels over their entire port length.

It includes the innovative mobile cable management system, PowerMove, to provide ship-to-shore connectivity. The PowerMove units are connected to the island’s energy infrastructure to power vessels while in port.

Four of the PowerMove units are designed to travel 45m along a vessel’s berth, from the shore socket box to the vessel connection point. The fifth will extend a record length, spanning more than 55m, to meet the specific requirements of the Deep Water Quay.

A remote-controlled telescopic arm adjusts to match the tide changes and the location of the power connections on cruise ships. The PowerMove units can provide power to cruise vessels independently of their electrical requirement: 6.6 KV or 11Kv, in 50Hz or 60Hz. In doing so, the units meet the variety of cruise ship configurations that utilise the port facilities.

With a sleek new design, the units are intended to blend in aesthetically with their surroundings, providing the perfect complement to the historic surrounding of Valletta Harbour.