ABB, a technology leader in electrification and automation, has secured an order from Portsmouth International Port for a shore connection solution for ferries and cruise ships visiting the port.
As part of the port’s Sea Change project, aimed at implementing a shore power system across its three busiest berths, the installation will cater to two ferry berths, each equipped with five connection points, and an additional berth shared by ferries and cruise ships.
The contract was finalized in January 2024, with installation scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2024 and anticipated operational readiness by the second quarter of 2025.
The shore connection solution provided by ABB enables vessels to shut off their engines while docked, thereby reducing annual carbon dioxide emissions from vessels calling at Portsmouth International Port by an estimated 20,000 metric tons starting in 2027. This initiative will notably enhance the air quality in the harbour area and contribute to the port’s long-term environmental objectives.
“As the UK’s largest and best-connected municipal port, we are committed to meeting the highest environmental standards and have set ourselves the target of reaching net zero by 2030 and becoming the country’s first zero-emissions port by 2050. ABB’s shore connection solution will help support these ambitions. Crucially, for the people of Portsmouth, it will have a hugely positive impact on air quality in the port and surrounding areas,” stated Stephen Watkyns, technical director at Portsmouth International Port.
Furthermore, ABB’s comprehensive scope of supply for the shore connection system includes a 16-MVA ACS6080 drive with a shunt filter, medium-voltage (MV) switchgear, power-factor compensation, transformers, e-houses, cable management systems, and automation. Furthermore, ABB will offer installation, cabling, and commissioning services, with Portsmouth International Port benefiting from a three-year maintenance agreement.
In conjunction with this initiative, Brittany Ferries, the port’s largest customer, will introduce two new LNG-electric hybrid ferries from 2025, which will be the largest vessels of their kind globally.
ABB will collaborate with Portsmouth International Port and Brittany Ferries, alongside a consortium comprising academics, marine specialists, and innovative technology SMEs, including the University of Portsmouth, MSE International, B4T, IOTICS, and Swanbarton.
This consortium will contribute technological advancements and expertise to support the Sea Change project, making it an appealing and scalable solution for adoption by ports in the UK and internationally.
Moreover, Sea Change forms part of the Zero Emissions Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition, announced in February 2023 and funded by the UK Government in partnership with Innovate UK. Under ZEVI, the Department for Transport allocated over US million to 10 flagship projects, supported by 52 organizations nationwide, to undertake real-world demonstration R&D projects in clean maritime solutions. These projects will be implemented across various locations, spanning from the Orkney Isles to the southwest of England.
ZEVI is an integral component of the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE), which concentrates on promoting clean maritime technologies capable of rapid scalability to decarbonize the UK’s domestic maritime sector.
In March 2022, the Department announced its largest-ever government investment in the UK commercial maritime sector, earmarking US$260 million for UK SHORE, a newly established division within the Department for Transport dedicated to decarbonizing the maritime sector.
Through UK SHORE, a series of interventions will be executed from 2022 to 2025, aimed at accelerating the development, production, and operation of UK-made clean maritime technologies and facilitating an industry-led transition to Net Zero emissions.
