Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava marked the introduction of shore power at PortMiami, a significant advancement that is expected to allow cruise ships to shut off their engines and connect to onshore electrical power while docked.
“As Mayor, I vowed to protect our environment; shore power has been my personal dream and initiative. We embarked on this journey in 2021, thanks to an innovative partnership with our major cruise line partners and Florida Power & Light Company,” stated Daniella Levine Cava.
This innovation aims to lower emissions, reduce noise and provide the necessary electricity for lights, refrigeration, and other operations aboard the ships.
Daniella Levine Cava emphasized, “Shore power is a great example of progress in tourism and clean energy converging. Together, we are creating jobs, expanding our economy, and preparing to meet the dynamic needs of tomorrow.”
A collaborative effort among Miami-Dade County, Carnival Corporation & plc, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Royal Caribbean Group, Virgin Voyages, and Florida Power & Light Company has made PortMiami the first major cruise port on the United States East Coast to offer shore power at five cruise berths.
“We are committed to being a sustainable global gateway. We thank our Mayor, County Commissioners, and port partners for their continued support of our resilience initiatives,” commented Hydi Webb, CEO and director at PortMiami.
Over the next year, 21 cruise ships will be equipped with shore power and will use this system in Miami, with more than 350 vessel calls anticipated to connect to the shore power network.
By using shore-side electricity, cruise ships can turn off their engines, achieving up to a 98% reduction in emissions. The environmental benefit of this shore power connection at a single terminal is comparable to taking 7,500 cars off the road each year.
