Portsmouth International Port's shore power system goes live

In a significant step forward for the UK maritime industry, ferries and cruise ships are now plugging into Portsmouth International Port's shore power system, as it strives to become the country's first zero-emissions port by 2050.

Brittany Ferries' hybrid-electric ships, the St Malo and the Guillaume de Normandie - both part of a €550 million fleet renewal - were the first to charge up during the system's final testing phase, marking a major milestone in the decarbonisation of the port, and of the country's maritime industry.

Two cruise ships have also taken electricity while testing the system, with commissioning first taking place with AIDA's AIDAsol, followed by Phoenix Risen's Amera.

These are the first steps to the system realising its full potential, when three ships plug in simultaneously, which is expected to happen later this year.

Funded with £19.8 million from the Department for Transport and £4.6 million from Portsmouth City Council, it is the UK's first multi-berth, multi-user, multi-frequency shore power system, that will allow up to three ships to plug in at the same time.

Mike Sellers, Portsmouth International Port director, said: “This is a huge moment not only for us, but also for the UK ports industry as a whole, as we are now the country’s first port to offer multi-berth, multi-user shore power.

“The clean electricity will have a big benefit to air quality in the city, and it also helps to future-proof Portsmouth port, aligning us with international moves towards electrification for all of our customers, meaning we can continue to be profitable and provide for essential services in the city.”