Sweden's second OPS for cruise ships inaugurated in Stockholm

Ports of Stockholm has taken another important step towards more sustainable shipping by inaugurating Sweden's second electricity connection for international cruise ships. Two facilities now enable more ships to connect to electricity at berth, reducing air emissions and noise levels. This strengthens Stockholm's position as a premium destination for sustainable cruise traffic.

Ports of Stockholm has now inaugurated Sweden's second facility for onshore power supply (OPS) for international cruise ships. The new facility was put into operation on 12 May when the Viking Jupiter was connected. Already last year, Ports of Stockholm inaugurated Sweden's very first electricity connection for cruise ships.

“The inauguration of Sweden's second onshore power connection for cruise ships is another important milestone for us and for the environment, and we are proud to be able to offer a more climate-smart solution for our shipping customers. It contributes greatly to creating a sustainable premium destination for cruise traffic, both in Stockholm and in the entire Baltic Sea region,” says Jens Holm, Chair of the Board of Ports of Stockholm.

The new high-voltage facility is built according to international standards and allows ships to switch off their auxiliary engines while at berth. This reduces emissions to air and also reduces noise levels. With the two facilities, Ports of Stockholm can connect about half of all cruise calls in Stockholm. The electricity used is 100 per cent green and comes from renewable sources such as wind and hydro power.

Ports of Stockholm is working actively and long term in order to, together with its shipping customers, significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants, and reduce noise levels from ships and port operations. Expanding onshore power access for ships is one of the key measures to achieve the objectives set. Together with three other Baltic Sea ports - Copenhagen/Malmö, Aarhus and Helsinki - Ports of Stockholm has received EU funding for the investment in onshore power supply at the centrally located quay Stadsgården 160.

Ports of Stockholm rewards shipping customers who implement environmental improvement measures. This is done through discounts on port fees for ships that achieve high environmental performance according to the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) and Clean Shipping Index (CSI). The discounts aim to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides and particles.

Cruise ships calling at Ports of Stockholm can discharge their wastewater at cruise quays. Four out of five of all international cruise ship calls in Stockholm use these facilities. However, not all vessels discharge wastewater during their call – many have advanced wastewater treatment plants onboard to treat it or store it in tanks for discharge at a later port. Ships are obliged to deliver their solid waste to port, and source-separated waste results in reduced waste fees.

Much of the ferry traffic in Ports of Stockholm has been connected to onshore power for a long time.

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Image above: Stefan Scheja, Marketing Manager Ferries and Cruises at Ports of Stockholm