Grand Harbour ‘Shore-To-Ship’ Power Project Officially Launched This Morning
Infrastructure Malta plans on reducing 90% of air pollution in the Grand Harbour through their new project, which aims at making use of shore-to-ship electricity systems for cruise liners.
The project, which officially launched this morning, was facilitated by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility. Its purpose is to reduce the oil and sulphur emissions created from the engines, as well as the high noise pollution within the area, according to Infrastructure Malta.
Announced back in 2020, the €49.9 million project was intended for cruise liners to switch off their gas or oil engines and plug in to shore side electricity while they are berthed at port.
“It will be providing onshore power supply along specific quays within the TEN-T CORE Port of the Grand Harbour that accommodate cruise liner vessels,” said Infrastructure Malta.
The quays affected are mainly those on the outer region of the Grand Harbour, Pinto Wharf, Deep Water Quay and Boiler Wharf.
“A 2015 European report indicates that one cruise ship berthed at port for eight hours produces an estimated 1.2 tonnes of nitrogen dioxide, the equivalent of 300,000 cars driving from Cirkewwa (Mellieħa) to Marsaxlokk. It releases 30 kilograms of particulate matter, the same as 180,000 cars travelling the same distance across Malta,” Infrastructure Malta stated back in 2020.
As a result, the state entity aims to reduce the air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions within the harbour, located close to a densely populated residential and business area.
In doing so, it hopes to decrease the carbon footprint of land-based port activities and contribute to the decarbonisation of shipping activities, in line with both EU and national climate change objectives.
Do you think that this project will help Malta effectively reach these goals?