The Port Authority of A Coruña has begun the necessary technical studies to install an electrical supply system for cruise ships calling at the city, with the aim of having this environmental improvement operational by 2024.
In recent years, the cruise industry has made a significant effort in environmental sustainability, including adapting ships to new carbon-neutral fuels and preparing them to use electricity supplied from land while docked in port.
Therefore, the port of A Coruña is working to be one of the first in Spain to implement the OPS (onshore power supply) system, which involves providing the dock with the necessary electrical grid for cruise ships to use during their stay in the city. This allows the ships to maintain their onboard operations without needing to run their auxiliary engines, minimizing emissions.
The Port Authority has several lines of action underway to achieve this objective. Thus, the works to be carried out in the coming months include the installation of the necessary piping for the OPS network.
A preliminary design has also been commissioned to define the necessary electrical infrastructure. The systems used by cruise ships differ from those typically found in Spain, which necessitates identifying and implementing the components that meet the demands of cruise ships, while also supplying the required power.
In addition, the Port Authority is also holding direct talks with shipping companies to learn about the current requirements of the ships and their plans to incorporate electricity hookups in the short and medium term.
The installation of the OPS system is being driven by the European Union, within the framework of measures aimed at decarbonizing ports and maritime transport, and aligns with the Green Port project promoted by the Port Authority of A Coruña in the area of energy transition. In this case, the specific objective is to maintain the port's strong performance in the cruise sector, retaining an industry that has increased its demands regarding the environmental responsibility of its operations.
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