Cruise ships on the plug
A shore power installation will be installed at the Wilhelminapier to supply docked cruise ships with electricity. As a result, the ships no longer need to burn diesel when they are ashore. The city council has agreed to this.
It sounds simpler than it is: supplying cruise ships with electricity from shore. Because before this is possible, a huge installation must first be built. This shore power installation will be located on the ground floor of the Cruise Terminal Rotterdam and will cover an area of ​​approximately 150 m2. The installation can be commissioned in 2024.
9 ton 'wagon'
This makes Rotterdam the first place in the Netherlands where cruise ships can access shore power. This does have consequences for the environment, says Hendrik-Jan Bosch of the municipality of Rotterdam. 'Now the quay is empty, but soon there will be a cable system. With a 'trolley' on wheels, weighing about 9 tons, to transport the cable with plug to and from the cruise ship.'
Customs zone
This means that the quay cannot become a pleasant place to stay. 'If there is a cruise ship, it is a customs zone, closed off with fences. So there is no room for terraces, nor for grass or trees, for example. Because there is concrete instead of soil. Trees in containers, such as at Hotel New York, should be removed every time a ship comes. That's just not possible, because about 100 ships dock there every year.'
Passengers in the city
Nevertheless, the majority of the Rotterdam council believes that cruise ships are and will remain welcome in the city. 'Seagoing ships suit Rotterdam', explains Bosch, 'This makes the port visible in the city. And shopkeepers and the catering industry benefit greatly from the visits of the passengers, who enter the city and spend money there.'
Sufficient power
It is of course not the case that all emissions are immediately a thing of the past due to shore power. Because when the ships arrive and sail away, they still do so on diesel. But once docked, they can be plugged in within 30 minutes. And for bookings from 2023/24, more than 80% of cruise ships have a shore power connection, according to Cruise Port Rotterdam. However, the demand for electricity and grid capacity will increase enormously at this location. Stedin is currently working on the elaborations, designs and permits.
Other ships
What about the other ships in town? 'Shore power is actually already commonplace for inland vessels,' says Bosch. 'We are working hard on other ships, such as coasters and work ships that moor at Lloydkade, Waalhaven and Parkkade, among others. That is mainly up to the Port Authority.'
Financing
Building the shore power installation will cost around 22.5 million euros. Half of the financing comes from the proceeds of the Eneco sale, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is responsible for the other half. Because it involves a major investment and intervention, the municipality immediately decided to extend the lease with Cruise Terminal Rotterdam until 2044.
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