Mobile and sustainable shore power at the Port of Rotterdam cruise ship terminal

The city of Rotterdam is investing heavily in making the city and harbor area more sustainable. One of the key steps in achieving this was the modernization of the cruise terminal.

The problem: Diesel engines often continue to run so that ships docked in harbors can continue to be supplied with electricity. CO₂_, nitrogen and particulate matter emissions are blown into the air. The engines also produce high noise emissions. The cruise terminal is close to Rotterdam's city center which further exacerbates this problem.

For this reason, ships are now being equipped with the necessary connections and technology to be supplied with electricity via a shore power connection at the harbor. Precautions must be taken not only on the ship — The harbors themselves must also be equipped with the right infrastructure and technology to supply ships reliably, quickly, and flexibly with electricity.

The berthing position of ships along the quay frequently changes. The cruise terminal at the Port of Rotterdam is extremely busy, with vessels of varying sizes docking throughout the day.

In addition, the shore power connection hatch may be located on either the port or starboard side of a ship. As a result, the shore power solution must be highly flexible, easy to reposition in order to accommodate the variety in connection locations, and quick to operate. Since people are present on the quay around the clock, the technical solution must also be space‑saving and designed to minimize cables lying on the quay as much as possible.

The Port of Rotterdam relies on the iMSPO Cruise system to ensure a flexible and reliable shore power supply for cruise ships at the terminal.

At the heart of the solution is a “movable socket” that enables shore power connections to be made quickly anywhere along the terminal’s entire 230‑meter length. The system is built around a 230‑meter‑long steel trough installed in a one‑meter‑deep trench beneath the quay. Inside this trough, all power supply cables are safely guided in robust 5050RHD energy chains. These rol e‑chains® move a total of 12 chainflex® CFCRANE motor cables and various fiber optic and supply cables, smoothly and reliably to the berthed vessel. Thanks to the cables’ tight bend radii, the system requires minimal space beneath the quay while delivering up to 16 MW of power at 11 kV — enough to supply electricity to a small town of 15,000 to 20,000 inhabitants.

The iMSPO Cruise unit is positioned by remote control within the fully covered shaft, with the sockets lowered during travel. Once the desired connection point is reached, the shaft cover above the iMSPO is removed and the sockets are raised. The transfer vehicle can then be connected, allowing the ship to be supplied with shore power. This entire process can be completed by just two operators in less than 15 minutes. The system complies with IEC 80005‑1 standards and relevant machinery guidelines. Installing the system underground also enhances safety at the port, as there are no exposed cables or equipment obstructing movement on the quay.

Like the cruise terminal itself, the shore power system is cooled using water from the River Meuse. In addition, a dedicated grid connection supplying renewable electricity was installed over a distance of 1.5 kilometers from Maashaven to Wilhelminakade. As cruise ships switch off their onboard generators while in port, emissions of CO₂, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter will be significantly reduced. This leads to improved air quality, lower noise levels, and a quieter, cleaner environment for both the port and the surrounding city.