DFDS invests in onshore power supply
PORTS: DFDS will introduce onshore power supply facilities in the ports of Immingham, Gothenburg and Ghent, and six freight vessels serving the ports will be refitted to receive power from land while in port.
Normally, ships are supplied with power from auxiliary engines on board and DFDS is continuously working to reduce the emissions from these engines, especially while in port. Methods used, for example, include low sulphur oil, reduction of energy consumption, the removal of nitrogen oxides through catalysts as well as means to reduce noise from the ships.
By 2014, DFDS will deploy a powerful new tool in this ongoing effort to reduce the impact on the environment while in port: shore-based power supply.
Shore-based power supply facilities will be established in three terminals: Ghent in Belgium, Immingham in the UK and Gothenburg in Sweden. Furthermore, six of DFDS largest ships serving these ports will be refitted to receive power from the shore-based facilities.
The total investment in the project is EUR 7 million. The European Commission has supported it with the maximum EUR 1 million as part of the Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency. It falls under the ‘Motorways of the Sea’ funding as it addresses important environmental challenges. In addition to this, the project has been financially supported by Volvo Group Belgium, the Port of Ghent, and the Port of Gothenburg.
“We are very grateful for the important support we have received from the European Commission and our partners for this pilot project, and for the great commitment they have shown in testing this new efficient tool which we believe will reinforce our continuous work for cleaner air and less noise in our terminal areas”, says Niels Smedegaard, CEO and President, DFDS.
The ports in Immingham, Gothenburg and Ghent and the six vessels were selected as they provide the most optimal conditions for onshore power supply. Two of the terminals are operated by DFDS, and the port of Gothenburg provides facilities in Gothenburg. The ships involved are sisters, built in 2003-06, and will service at least one of the ports for the next five years, which is an important condition for the EU grant.
The capacity of the berths equipped with onshore power supply will be available to other operators so the environmental benefits of the facilities can be maximized. Furthermore, we hope that the project will give guidance to policymakers in creating a standard solution for onshore power.
Source: DFDS
