Cruise ships frequent Halifax on a daily basis for much of the year, releasing a significant amount of people and pollution into the city while stationed at the port. Brent Dancey, the director of marine climate action at Oceans North, highlighted how the emissions from these ships create visible pollution in the vicinity of the port. Concerns have been raised by local residents in Halifax and other Canadian cities like St. John’s regarding this issue.
One solution to this problem is shore power, a technology that allows ships to connect to the local grid and eliminate the need to burn fuel for power while docked. Ships typically burn heavy fuel oil and marine diesel oil, which produce harmful pollutants like fine particulate matter and greenhouse gases. By plugging into shore power, ships can reduce their environmental impact significantly.
Shore power has been implemented in some Canadian ports, including Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Montreal, and Halifax, where it is available for cruise and container ships. However, the coverage of shore power infrastructure in Canada is limited compared to major ports worldwide. The availability of shore power can attract cleaner ships to ports that offer this technology, while those without it may continue to receive ships that rely on burning fuel.
Despite the environmental benefits of shore power, some ships in Canada do not always use this technology even when it is available. Factors such as alignment with docks, cost considerations, and incentives play a role in ships’ decisions to plug into shore power. While regulations in California, Europe, and China require ships to use shore power when possible, Canada does not currently have such mandates.
As shore power regulations evolve globally, it is becoming a key component of future ports. The EU, for example, will mandate ships to use shore power at most major ports by 2030. California has expanded shore power requirements to various types of vessels statewide. The International Maritime Organization aims to make the shipping industry net-zero by 2050 and has set emission standards for ships.
Canadian ports, including Montreal and Churchill, are considering upgrades to accommodate shore power and stay competitive in the evolving maritime industry. Shore power readiness during port construction or retrofits is seen as a cost-effective way to promote environmental sustainability in the shipping sector. Investing in renewable electricity infrastructure at ports is crucial for building a sustainable future for the industry.
