Sydney’s White Bay Cruise Terminal (WBCT) at Balmain will be the first port in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere to enable cruise ships to switch from diesel engines to shoreside renewable electrical power by the end of 2026.
The NSW Government has pumped $20 million into the landmark Shore Power project, which Danish company Powercon will deliver with construction set to start in late 2024.
The project includes the design, fabrication, supply and installation of shore power equipment and an internal electrical distribution network at the port.
Port Authority NSW plans to invest almost $60 million to develop the shoreside electricity supply for cruise ships at WBCT, offset by renewable energy generation.
Cruise ships can use the electric chargers while docked, allowing the main auxiliary engines to be switched off, resulting in fewer carbon emissions and less noise and air pollution at one of Australia’s busiest ports.
Cruise industry mission of net zero emissions by 2050
WBCT’s supply of certified renewable energy is estimated to reduce up to 4,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year – equivalent to removing 1,100 cars or planting 20,000 trees each year.
When operational, it will be mandatory for any cruise ship docked at White Bay to use shore power. Most ships that visit the facility are already shore-power enabled.
Around 46 per cent of the current global cruise line fleet are shore-power enabled with these figures predicted to grow to 88 per cent by 2028.
In Europe, all essential ports will have shoreside electricity by 2030. Currently, 35 ports worldwide have this new technology.
Cruise line commitment
WBCT partners Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and MSC Cruises have committed to using shore power and will ensure frequently visiting ships are shore-power enabled.
Australian Cruise Association CEO Jill Abel welcomed the announcement of the new infrastructure initiative to assist the cruise industry reach net zero emissions by 2050.
“Although cruise ships represent less than one per cent of the total ocean-going commercial fleet worldwide, it is highly commendable to see the sector taking the global lead in finding solutions that help to create a cleaner, greener future,” she said.
“We applaud the work being done by ports, cruise lines and our governments as they come together on these critical sustainability initiatives and look forward to White Bay becoming a viable model for other ports around the country.”
Find out more at portauthoritynsw.com.au
