PortMiami has become the first major cruise port on the U.S. eastern seaboard to offer shore power capability at five cruise terminals, significantly reducing emissions associated with hoteling cruise vessels.
With the successful completion of Port Miami’s Terminal F pilot project, shore power is now offered at the port’s five cruise terminals, and more than 350 vessel calls are expected to plug into the system in its first year of operation. The initiative means that ships can switch off their diesel engines and connect to onshore electrical power, significantly reducing both emissions and noise. When ships are in berth, they need energy for operating equipment and functions such as lighting and refrigeration.
Moffatt & Nichol assisted PortMiami by performing masterplanning and developing basis of design packages for shore power at five of PortMiami’s cruise ship terminals, which included conducting charrettes with stakeholders and developing power load estimates for the various classes of cruise ships that call on the port. The shore power system components developed were based on evolving technology and industry-preferred systems. Moffatt & Nichol also worked closely with PortMiami to develop master planning of shore power for cargo berths, comprising a separate master plan and report along with construction budgets as well as greenhouse gas emission reduction estimates.
The effort supports Miami-Dade County’s goals of achieving a 50 percent carbon reduction by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050.
