Port Of Amsterdam Powers Up Shore Connection For Cruise Ships

Cruise ships docking at the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) can now connect to shore power instead of using their onboard generators, helping reduce both air pollution and noise in the city.

The new shore power installation became operational on June 3, 2025. With this new system, cruise ships can turn off their engines while at berth and plug into the local electricity grid. This helps reduce harmful emissions at the quay.

Based on an estimated 100 ship calls per year, the system is expected to cut down around 3 tonnes of particulate matter, 100 tonnes of nitrogen oxides, and 4.8 kilotonnes of CO₂ every year. Turning off the generators also lowers noise levels significantly, which is important given the terminal’s central location in the city.

The use of shore power at this terminal will become mandatory from 2027, three years ahead of the European Union’s regulation deadline. The Port of Amsterdam has announced that ships already equipped for shore power will be given priority access at the terminal.

Construction of the shore power system started in May 2023 and was completed in early 2025. The Danish company PowerCon A/S supplied the shore power system, while BAM Infra Nederland worked as the subcontractor. The project included major infrastructure work to connect the shore facility to the city’s power grid.

As part of this construction, grid operator Liander laid 4.4 kilometres of cable under the IJ River, linking a substation in Amsterdam-Noord to the terminal at Veemkade. Another 8 kilometres of cable was installed under the quay and pier decks to connect the rest of the system.

Video Credits: Port of Amsterdam/LinkedIn

A key part of the setup is the Smart Energy Hub, built on the quay at the PTA. This facility contains the grid operator’s systems, transformers, and the shore power control equipment. From here, electricity is delivered to power cabinets located along the quay. A Cable Management System can extend up to 50 meters of cable to connect directly to the docked ships.

The electricity used for the shore power system is partly sourced from the Ruigoord wind farm, located in the port of Amsterdam, making it a greener energy solution. The project was supported financially by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the European Commission.

According to officials, the new installation is not just for cruise ships. The port is also looking into how the connection can be used to electrify other parts of the cruise experience, such as tour buses, and support sustainability goals in Amsterdam.

Alderman for the Port, Hester van Buren, said the project shows what can be achieved when organisations work together with shared goals, and added that the installation proves sustainability efforts can happen today, not just in the future.

Dick de Graaff, Director of Cruise Port Amsterdam, stated that the launch of the shore power system benefits the city’s residents, tourists, and the environment, and also demonstrates the terminal’s capability to lead responsible tourism through innovation.

Dorine Bosman, Chief Investment Officer at Port of Amsterdam, said the system helps make the port and city more livable and is an important move towards a climate-neutral future by 2050. She added that because of the terminal’s central location, clean and quiet solutions are essential, and this project delivers exactly that.

Reference: portofamsterdam

Source: Maritime Shipping News