Shore power now a must

Plug in … or miss the boat

By Deniece Aiken*

* Extreme weather events and deadly heatwaves claim lives in Morocco. * Catastrophic floods sweep across Africa, Europe and the Americas. * Cyclones, fuelled by warming oceans, ravage Asian countries. * Wildfires and tornadoes destroy towns and villages in North America.

Increasingly catastrophic climate events mark a new chapter on planet Earth — one in which Climate Change (now a Climate Crisis) is already reshaping national economies, physical environments and daily life.

Among the affected sectors is global shipping which is now facing rising seas, volatile weather, and waterway disruptions such as the drought-stricken Panama Canal with about one-third fewer ships able to pass through in the year up to September 2024. New Arctic routes, emerging as ice melts, pose both opportunities and environmental risks.

As the maritime industry faces mounting climate pressures, it must navigate the dual challenge of resilience and emissions reduction. The recent conclusion of the 83^rd session of the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC 83) propelled heightened awareness within the industry. As the sector accelerates its transition toward net-zero emissions, key strategies like adopting green fuels, retrofitting vessels, and embracing electrification are gaining momentum. Hybrid and fully electric vessels are drawing significant interest in island-dense regions such as the Baltic Sea and the Caribbean. To effectively integrate these vessels, ports need the infrastructure to support them.

Solutions

Shore power solutions involve the installation of infrastructure along the berths in ports which allow ships to connect to land-based electricity. Vessels can then shut down their engines during port stays and this results in significant reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants, particularly in urban port areas.

In an effort to encourage swift action towards the use of shore power, recommendations, guidelines, mandatory measures and regulations have been introduced at global, regional, and local levels. Examples, include California’s Ocean-Going Vessels at Berth (OGVB) regulation, which has required certain vessel types to use shore power since 2023 and the widely discussed FuelEU Maritime Regulation. The latter mandates the use of on-shore power supply (OPS) or other zero-emission alternatives starting on January 1, 2030 in European Union (EU) ports covered by the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and, as of January 1, 2035, in all EU ports with OPS infrastructure.

This new wave of regional regulations is compelling shipping companies to reassess vessel design, fuel strategies and port call logistics.

This transition to shore power introduces a range of strategic and operational implications for the maritime industry. One of the most immediate challenges is pressure to modernise fleets as older vessels must be retrofitted with shore power systems … a costly undertaking. Beyond the technical upgrades, shipowners are increasingly reevaluating their port call strategies, favouring ports with reliable shore power infrastructure so as to avoid fuel surcharges, emissions-related fees, and potential penalties. The expanding patchwork of regional regulations also adds a new layer of complexity to global operations. Vessels now need to navigate a diverse set of requirements depending on where they sail, thus complicating both voyage planning and compliance management. This shift is more than a logistical adjustment; it represents a strategic pivot aligned with broader decarbonisation efforts, including stricter fuel standards, the implementation of greenhouse gas pricing and, the growing demand for digital emissions monitoring.

The adoption of shore power presents a mix of challenges and strategic opportunities for ports. Development of the necessary shore-side infrastructure demands substantial capital investment. In addition, port operators must work closely with utility providers in order to obtain adequate electrical capacity, preferably sourced from renewables, to support the long-term viability and sustainability of shore power systems. Recent widespread power outages in Spain and Portugal, although their exact causes remain unclear, highlight the potential risks. Similar disruptions could occur on a larger scale if power systems are not properly equipped to handle the additional load from shore-powered vessels.

Significant advantages

Despite these hurdles, ports that take the lead in installing shore power stand to benefit from important competitive advantages. They are more likely to be favoured by environmentally conscious shipping lines that seek to reduce emissions and comply with evolving sustainability standards. Early adoption also helps ports to meet regulatory requirements for participation in green corridors and emissions-controlled zones, positioning them as compliant and forward-looking hubs in the global shipping network.

Shore power offers tangible benefits to local communities by significantly reducing air pollution, particularly in densely populated regions or environmentally sensitive areas, thereby improving public health outcomes. Major ports such as Los Angeles, Rotterdam, Tallinn, Helsinki, Marseille, and Shanghai have already emerged as global leaders in shore power deployment. At the same time, many ports in so-called developing regions are striving to catch up, often contending with limited access to financing and unreliable grid infrastructure as they work to modernise and align with global emissions goals

Caribbean uncertainties

The outlook for shore power in the Caribbean remains uncertain. While countries in the Caribbean  are heavily reliant on cruise tourism, they are increasingly subject to global climate policies and emissions regulations. Despite these mounting pressures, shore power infrastructure is still largely absent in the Caribbean.

The Caribbean region faces its own set of challenges due largely to the lack of regional shipping infrastructure. This deficiency hinders economic integration and efficient maritime trading. In contrast, infrastructure supporting cruise tourism is more developed but presents distinct challenges especially for smaller Caribbean countries. When evaluating the potential for shore power in the Caribbean, it is essential to account for the already limited energy supply. Any implementation strategy must address these constraints and explore how energy capacity can be expanded to meet the substantial power demands of docked ships.

Although progress has been gradual, some Caribbean nations, particularly those in the Dutch Caribbean, have begun laying the groundwork for the introduction of shore power facilities in their ports. Meanwhile, others are still in the early stages of strategizing; undertaking needs assessments; and, evaluating the technical and financial feasibility of shore power solutions.

The absence of shore power infrastructure in the Caribbean presents several significant risks for the Region’s economic and environmental resilience. One of the most pressing concerns is the potential decline in cruise business — a major revenue source for many Caribbean countries.

As global regulations on maritime emissions tighten, cruise operators are under increasing pressure to reduce their environmental footprint. This shift is prompting many lines to prioritise ports that allow vessels to plug into cleaner, land-based electricity instead of relying on polluting onboard generators. Ports that fail to meet these expectations risk being bypassed in favour of environmentally compliant destinations.

Shore power is far more than a technical upgrade to port infrastructure. It is a strategic enabler of the maritime sector’s climate transition. For regions like the Caribbean, shore power is not just about emissions reduction. It is an essential component of long-term economic resilience, environmental stewardship, and relevance in a rapidly decarbonising global economy. While the road ahead for Caribbean ports is undeniably long and complex; shaped by barriers such as limited financial resources, modest port capacities, unreliable power grids, and multiple development priorities, the global trajectory is clear. If the Caribbean is to keep pace with the world of shipping, it must act with urgency and enlightened vision.

Port authorities and policymakers in the Caribbean are urged to take a proactive stance. Begin with detailed feasibility assessments; engage energy providers early; pursue international partnerships and climate finance opportunities; and, develop phased implementation plans tailored to meet local conditions.

Shore power is not an optional enhancement. It is a strategic imperative. []

• FIRST PUBLISHED: Portside Caribbean May 1, 2025

#Caribbeanshipping #Caribbeanseaports #Shorepower #Climatechange #environmentprotection #maritimeenvironment

* Deniece Aiken, Ph.D., is an Attorney-at-Law and Consultant; Maritime Transport Research Group (Estonia); President of WISTA JAMAICA; WiMAC Member; WMUKoji Sekimizu Fellow for Maritime Governance.