- One of the most popular cruise ports in the world has just undergone an environmental renovation.
- PortMiami is now equipped with shore power, which allows ships to be plugged into giant electrical outlets.
- The technology allows cruise ships to turn off their engines while docked, reducing emissions and noise.
The cruise ship capital of the world this week unveiled its new shore power system, an innovative energy source that will help reduce the industry’s negative climate impacts.
Cruise ships that dock at PortMiami can now be plugged into huge electrical outlets instead of running their diesel engines while idle.
Large commercial ships typically keep their engines running while they are docked to ensure that the crew and passengers who remain on board have access to electricity and other amenities. A cruise ship with an engine in port can consume as much energy as 10,000 homes in one day, the Miami Herald reported.
The Florida port saw more than 7 million cruise passengers pass through in 2023, a record number for the busy cruise hub.
Coastal power uses the local land-based electrical grid. The Miami apparatus is a collaboration between Miami-Dade County, Florida Power & Light Company and several major cruise lines.
The project cost about $125 million and was funded by grants and contributions, including from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department of Transportation, Cruise Hive, a trade publication, reported.
Power comes from individual substations built by Florida Power & Light, which are installed at several terminals throughout the port, according to The Herald.
Coastal energy will help reduce emissions and noise pollution, the outlet reported. MiamiPort has 16 megawatts available for cruise ships, and each ship requires eight to 13 megawatts per berth, port director Hydi Webb told The Herald.
MiamiPort did not immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
Monday marked the grand opening of the Port of Miami’s coastal power system. Executives from five cruise lines – Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Virgin, Norweigen and MSC – attended, according to media reports.
The deployment of shore power at the port is rapid. Three ships per cruise line will be able to connect to the substations starting this week, The Herald reported.
A Carnival ship was the first ship to connect on Monday, according to Cruise Hive. The company did not immediately respond to BI’s request for comment.
Although 30% of global cruise ships have shore power capacity, fewer than 30 ports are equipped to serve these ships, according to a 2023 report from the Cruise Lines Industry Association.
But more and more ports appear to be ready for the change. The Port of Seattle recently announced that it will require all cruise ships transported there to use shore power by 2027.
