Aarhus Exceeds Onshore Supply Expectations
The Port of Aarhus has become the first port in Denmark to offer onshore power supply (OPS) to cruiseships.
The official opening took place on June 20 when AIDA Cruises’ AIDAmar connected for five to six hours, almost the entire length of her stay in port.
In the past few weeks, at least six ships – TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 4 and 6, Holland America Line’s Rotterdam and Nieuw Statendam, AIDAsol and Fred Olsen Cruise Line’s Bolette – have connected with three to four more expected this year.
Morten Kusk, commercial manager Port of Aarhus, says: “We have exceeded expectations. We do not know the exact number of cruiseships that will connect to shore power as we are working on a case by case basis. But there is great interest from the cruiseship companies in making their ships capable of receiving shore power. We are already experiencing that all the ships that can utilise shore power are also eager to do so.”
He is confident that next year between 30 and 40 percent of those ships that do call will connect to the OPS, with more and more doing so in the future.
The total investment for the installation was €7 million, of which the port contributed €5 million, the city of Aarhus €1 million and the EU €1 million. Local supply company Konstant is supplying the energy and is guaranteeing to the port that it will always be able to supply the electricity required.
The 16mW installation is located on Pier 129 with connections both fore and aft to cater to the different hookup locations on board different ships. A cable management system ensures there is extra cable available when necessary.
One ship can be supplied at a time at the pier, which can accommodate ships up to a maximum of 319m length overall.
The energy supplied will be 75% green this year, 90% next and 100% in 2025. The source comes from wind turbines.
(Aarhus Exceeds Onshore Supply Expectations – Cruise Europe)
