ABB brings UK’s first high-voltage multi-berth shore power system into service in Portsmouth International Port
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The UK’s first high-voltage multi-berth shore power system is now operational. Enabled by ABB technology, it supports Portsmouth International Port to become the nation’s first zero emission port.
ABB shore power solution allows ferries and cruise ships alongside the port’s three busiest berths to turn off their engines and plug into the local power grid. Following extensive testing of the system by the Brittany Ferries vessels Saint Malo and Guillaume de Normandie, Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady became the first commercial cruise ship to plug in at the terminal during August 20261.
Portsmouth International Port estimates that, as well as improving air quality and reducing noise, shore power will avoid carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO2e) from ship calls of around 20,000 tonnes2 each year from 2027 onward.
“We are the first port in the country to have high-voltage multi-berth, multi-user, multi-frequency shore power connections,” said Mike Sellers, Port Director of Portsmouth International Port. “We'll be able to connect up to three vessels at the same time, and that will help meet our objectives of being net zero by 2035, and the first zero emission port in the UK by 2050.”
The UK’s largest municipal port, Portsmouth offers more ferry routes than any other in the nation. Also known for its rich naval history, ecological importance and leisure, Portsmouth welcomed calls from a record 94 scheduled cruise ships in 2025.
“I want to congratulate everyone involved in this huge undertaking” said Councilor Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council. “The system sets Portsmouth apart in the UK cruise and ferry market, cements our sustainability ambitions, and contributes to our ongoing commitment to the health of people across the city.”
The shore connection initiative comes under the port’s ‘Sea Change’ project – itself part of the UK Government-funded Zero Emissions Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition which was delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. Sea Change includes a plan for shore power to support the charging of two new hybrid-LNG ferries that will enter and leave the port under 100 percent renewable electric power.
As the UK’s largest shore power installation to date, the system’s impact on ship emissions will be discernible as well as measurable, at a time when the UK Chamber of Shipping acknowledges the nation’s ports lag behind others in adopting shore power3.
ABB looked after the whole electrical infrastructure needed for the shore power for ferries and for the cruise ships. It is also contracted to provide shore connection service and remote support across all three berths.
The installation offers other UK port operators an up-close insight into the comprehensive shore power competence that ABB’s Marine & Ports division can provide as part of its strategy to support maritime decarbonization across multiple vessel requirements. It has been designed to connect ships at 11 kV 50 hertz, 11 kV 60 hertz, and also at 6.6 kV 50 hertz and 6.6 kV 60 hertz.
Portsmouth also offers the latest example of a shore power solution featuring the ‘e-house’, where the main onshore power supply equipment is installed in containers on a prefabricated basis by ABB for easy delivery into the port. Other ABB problem-solving initiatives included the location of shore connection transformers under terminal linkspans, away from operating areas where space is at a premium
Where cruise ships feature plug-in points in non-standard locations, a solution has also been found to cover requirements along Berth No.2, through acquisition of a remotely operated vehicle with its own cable management system.
“This is a very important project for ABB, as the largest shore power project in the UK and as a new example of the multi-berth solutions major ports need to meet their ambitions on decarbonization,” said Marcus Martelin, Head of Decarbonization Services, ABB’s Marine & Ports division. “It has been a privilege to fulfil our obligations as a technology provider for this UK Government-funded project and consolidate our reputation as a trusted provider of shore connection capabilities for cleaner port operations. This is a pivotal step in the UK’s journey towards a greener maritime future.”
References
[1] https://portsmouth-port.co.uk/news/its-electrifying-portsmouth-international-ports-shore-power-system-goes-live/
[2] https://portsmouth-port.co.uk/about-us/sustainability/sea-change/
[3] https://www.ukchamberofshipping.com/policy/decarbonisation/shore-power-position
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