Cruise industry leaders are advancing faster than ports in adopting shore power capabilities, vital for reducing emissions.
- The world’s largest cruise company, Carnival Corporation, leads in shore power efforts, boasting a fleet with 67% capability.
- Despite cruise advancements, only a small fraction of ports, including PortMiami, offer necessary shore power connections.
- Carnival plans further investments in shore power, with a significant agreement to expand capabilities onboard.
- The industry calls for ports to catch up, emphasising the environmental importance of this technology.
The cruise industry is showing significant initiative in adopting shore power capabilities, spearheaded by Carnival Corporation’s efforts. The company has positioned itself as the leader in this area, with 67% of its global fleet—a total of 64 ships—equipped to connect to shore power. This achievement is notable considering that the number of ports capable of providing such facilities is less than half the number of capable ships.
Carnival Corporation’s progress was underscored by the announcement that it had already surpassed its 2030 shore power goal by 2023, achieving this milestone seven years ahead of schedule. The initiative is expected to grow as three additional ships are set to be outfitted with these capabilities within the current year.
A strategic agreement with Swiss technology firm ABB Group aims to further enhance Carnival’s pioneering position. Over the coming years, 30 more shore power connections will be installed on Carnival ships, marking a significant expansion of their current capabilities.
PortMiami has emerged as a trailblazer among cruise ports in the United States, offering shore power at five of its berths. Carnival Conquest will become the first ship to utilise this new infrastructure, drawing electricity from the local grid to power onboard systems while docked. This development highlights the collaborative efforts between ports and cruise lines in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Carnival’s executive leadership remains committed to this forward-thinking environmental strategy. Chief Executive Josh Weinstein stated that the use of shoreside electricity is crucial to the company’s wider aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He acknowledges the slow global adoption but praises PortMiami for its foresight in recognising the essential role of shore power.
The sentiment was echoed by Carnival Cruise Line’s president, Christine Duffy, who highlighted the company’s ongoing initiatives to stay ahead of its environmental targets. She stressed the importance of relying on electrical grids to power ships while in port, thus significantly cutting down emissions.
The cruise industry urges ports to accelerate the adoption of shore power technology to align with environmental goals.
