Cruise News - Maritime News

Cruise Europe, in conjunction with Cruise Baltic and Cruise Britain, has launched its active onshore power (OPS) database, detailing those ports in the Cruise Europe geographical area which are either onshore power ready, or will be within five years.

The database lists 23 ports, alongside which are details such as how the OPS is supplied, connection times, applicable fees, discounts and incentives.

Simone Maraschi, chair of Cruise Europe Sustainability Group, says: “While the industry's commitment to zero emission continues at a steady pace, the development of OPS systems will clearly play a key role in this process.

More and more ports are offering OPS connections and more and more OPS systems are being designed in European ports.

“With this in mind, the collaboration between ports and cruiselines is crucial. Cruise Europe has therefore decided to create a database containing all (major) technical information on active OPS systems and those in the planning stage.”
The database will be constantly updated so that cruiselines have key information on both existing and the current development of OPS facilities. This will be a relevant tool in planning potential itineraries.

CE chairman Michael McCarthy comments:

“By 2030, under the EU Fit for 55 package, all ports in the EU and visiting ships need to use OPS or an alternative means to power a ship whilst at berth instead of using their diesel generators. Availability of electricity from clean energy or low carbon sources ensures an overall reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”

As well as being of benefit to the cruiselines, OPS can also contribute to localised environmental improvements to CE and CB member ports and surrounding areas by reducing harmful emissions from NOx, SOx and particulates associated with poor air quality and noise and vibration.

For further information, please contact:
Jens Skrede, managing director Cruise Europe,
on jens@cruiseeurope.com

www.cruiseeurope.com/