Shanghai Plans Six More Shore Power Generators for Cruise Terminals

Shanghai is planning to add six more generators to support shore power at the city's cruise ship terminals.

With the intent of reducing air pollution, officials in Shanghai have announced plans to build six electric generators that will provide shore power to an increasing number of cruise liners berthing at the port's cruise ship terminals.

As Ship & Bunker previously reported, the Port of Shanghai announced last year that it would begin offering shore power beginning in 2015, with the city's first electric generator for container ships installed at the Yangshan port set to be put into use around June, and the first high-voltage electric generator at the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal is reported to be slated to undergo a trial run by September.

The decision for further generators has come alongside Transport Commission reports showing that ship emissions account for 8 to 10 percent of Shanghai's PM2.5 pollutants.

"Though without accurate evaluation, the pollutants from a cruise line are estimated to be equal to 3,000 to 5,000 vehicles," said Zhang Lin, Deputy Director of Shanghai's Transport Commission.

"Though the major container port is far away from downtown, the emissions can still be brought downtown by wind."

Shanghai is reported to be the world's eighth largest cruise liner port, with a throughput of 400 voyages and 1.6 million passengers recorded last year.

Zhang adds that the commission has had to cut some voyages in an effort to control growth, noting that an estimated 500 voyages are set to dock at local ports this year, bringing over 2.4 million passengers.

"It has become a growing pain for the city," said Zhang, adding that "without proper measures, the fast increasing number of cruise liners will become more serious threats to the city's air quality."

It is reported that the City of Shanghai will subsidise installation costs of the port's new generators, as well as maintenance costs, and a portion of the liners' electricity costs while utilising the port's shore power.

In July, in a further effort to reduce shipping emissions, Shanghai announced it would be implementing an incentive scheme for ocean-going vessels (OGVs) calling the port to use shore-power,