Onshore Power Supply (OPS)
Powering Sustainability
CLIA Cruise Lines Commitment to Shoreside Electricity and Emissions Reduction
Onshore power supply (OPS) enables cruise ships to significantly reduce emissions, up to 98%, by turning off their engines and plugging into shoreside electricity while docked. CLIA is actively promoting OPS infrastructure to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2050, with nearly 80% of the fleet expected to be OPS-equipped by 2028, and a commitment to universal shoreside connectivity or alternative low-carbon technologies by 2035.
Ships
120
are equipped to connect to shoreside electricity
Ships
239
Ships expected to be in service that will be able to connect to OPS in 2028, nearly 80% of the fleet
Plugging Into Sustainability: Rapid Growth of Onshore Power Adoption in the Cruise Industry
Onshore power supply allows ship engines to be switched off at berth for significant emissions reduction.
- Plugging in to OPS when ships are in port allows ship engines to be switched off for significant emissions reductions of up to 98% (with all emissions covered), depending on the mix of energy sources, according to studies conducted by a number of the world’s ports and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- CLIA champions the advancement of onshore power infrastructure as an important component in the industry's pursuit of net zero emissions by 2050 and supports continued development of cost-effective infrastructure for clean shore-side electricity in ports where cruise ships call when the net impact delivers an overall emission reduction.
- Until there are alternative fuels available at scale and at a competitive price, shore power is a critical component of the industry’s pursuit of its net-zero by 2050 ambitions.
Across the CLIA cruise line member fleet, the number of cruise ships equipped to connect to onshore power has more than doubled in the past five years and continues to grow.
- Today 120 ships are equipped to connect to shoreside electricity.
- By 2028, 239 ships (nearly 80% of the fleet) that are able to connect to OPS are expected to be in service (based on the number of ships scheduled to be retrofitted and new ships on the order book specified for OPS connectivity). This includes 64 ships currently in service and each of the 28 CLIA-member cruise ships on the 2024 - 2028 order book—all of which are specified for OPS connectivity.
- Across the CLIA cruise line member fleet, the number of cruise ships equipped to connect to onshore power has more than doubled in since 2018 and continues to grow.
- Today, only 35 cruise ports—comprising less than 3% of the world's cruise ports—currently offer onshore power (with at least one berth for cruise ships). The industry will continue to work with its port partners as they evolve their shoreside sustainability offerings.
- CLIA member ocean lines have made a commitment that all ships calling at ports capable of providing onshore power are anticipated to be equipped to either use shoreside electricity by 2035 or to be able to use alternative low carbon technologies, as available, to reduce emissions in port.
- As part of the EU’s Fit for 55 decarbonization regulations, by 2030, major ports in Europe will be required to have shoreside power, which will further accelerate the available port infrastructure investment in that region.
Investing in the Development of Infrastructure
The deployment of shoreside electricity (SSE) infrastructure at a port is a multi-million dollar investment project. SSE is a core element of many local public policies to improve air quality and reduce noise levels for the wider benefit of mobility infrastructure, but also of some national decarbonisation strategies. As such, it is essential that SSE projects, like other public infrastructure development initiatives, benefit from the financial support of national and local authorities.
Case Study
Green Port Initiative: Port of Cádiz Partners with Endesa X to Pioneer Renewable Shoreside Power
Working with renewable energy company Endesa X, the Port of Cádiz will be among the first ports in Spain where cruise ships will be able to connect to an onshore power supply. According to Spain’s Puertos del Estado, replacing onboard electricity generation with a ship’s own connection to 100% renewable onshore electrification is expected to reduce NOx emissions by 96%, SOx by 8%, particulates by 94% and CO2 by 64% from ships.