Electricity has a crucial role to play in addressing the decarbonization across many industries. Shipping is no exception as well. There’s a growing need for a change in the power supply of vessels such as ferries, tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, cruisers, and many others. Along with environmental concerns and regulatory compliances around the world, there are clear economic benefits from the technology that hat allows ships to plug into the local electrical grid while docked at port. This alternative technology that we are talking about is the Onshore power supply. 

What is Onshore Power Supply OPS?

OPS is a system that enables electrical power for the ships docked at port terminals from the shore-side electrical grid. It significantly reduces pollutants emissions and greenhouse gases while the ship is at berth. Along with the reduction of carbon emissions for both the vessel and port environment, Onshore Power Supply (OPS) also reduces noise, lowers costs, and enhances the working conditions for seafarers aboard the vessel. 

A typical OPS installation requires a building that houses the necessary technical equipment, that usually includes switchgear, transformers, and frequency converters. This equipment is used to adapt the shore’s electrical characteristics, such as voltage and frequency, to match those of the ship.

Based on the situational analyses, we can offer a customizable solution for OPS, consisting of ehouses and electrical equipment tailored to meet the demands of the port. There are 5 different types of OPS systems based on the specific port requirements and vessel types. When deciding about the OPS type, certain factors such as power demand, infrastructure investment, and environmental regulations should be considered.