Shore power for cruise ships at the Port of Montreal

Vessels docking at the new cruise terminal at the Port of Montreal can now be powered by electricity. The project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2,800 tonnes annually.

Shore power leads to better ambient air quality by enabling ships to turn off their engines and connect to the electrical grid for the power they need while docked.

This is the first green initiative of its kind in Quebec. The $11-million project was rolled out in two phases. The first was shore power for wintering vessels, and the second for cruise ships. In 2016, the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) established four power supply stations at Berths 25, 27, 29 and at M2 for vessels that winter at the port.

As part of the Alexandra Pier and cruise terminal rehabilitation, the MPA worked with its technical partners to have the necessary equipment installed to provide shore-power for cruise ships. To provide the sufficient power, Hydro-Québec installed a new 25 kilovolts line to supply the new substation installed at the cruise terminal in 2016. Schneider Electric designed and built the equipment needed to install the new electrical substation. All the work led to the first-ever plug-in connection with Holland America Line’s ms Veendam cruise ship on July 29.