News in Brief

Sydney to be the first Australian port to offer shore power for cruise ships

The Port Authority of New South Wales (NSW) is to build Australia’s first cruise ship shore power facility at Sydney’s White Bay Cruise Terminal.

Initial work to prepare the site is expected to begin by the end of 2024, with completion of the project scheduled for late 2026.

The AU$20 million ($13.8million) contract for the facility at White Bay berth 5 has been awarded to Powercon. Cruise ships will be able to switch offer their engines and connect to shore power in port, which is expected to reduce emissions associated with the White Bay precinct by over 4,000 tonnes every year.

“This will be the first major shore power infrastructure in southern hemisphere and the carbon emissions reduction this project at White Bay will achieve is equivalent to taking 1,100 cars off Sydney’s roads or planting 20,000 trees each year,” said Jo Haylen, NSW Minister for Transport.

Once operational, it will be mandatory for any shore power enabled ship docking at White Bay to use the facility. According to the port authority, the vast majority of cruise ships using the terminal are already shore power enabled.

Both NSW and Federal Labor announced their support for a shore power project in 2019 with the former NSW Liberal Government agreeing to deliver a facility by 2024. However, funding was unavailable until now.

“Five years ago, Labor promised we would deliver shore power for White Bay Cruise Terminal, and cleaner air for the community on the Balmain peninsula; today that promise is being kept,” said Tanya Plibersek, federal member for Sydney. “This will be the first project of its kind in Australia, and it will be run on renewables. Awarding the contract for the shore power equipment design, fabrication, supply and installation, marks a major milestone in this complex project.”

“The port authority is focused on progressing the shore power project to our revised delivery date and creating a world-class, integrated, sustainable port of the future that supports our economy, the community and the NSW Government’s vision for the area,” said Philip Holliday, CEO of Port Authority of NSW.

Source: cruiseandferry.net