Shore Power (Cold Ironing)
Shore Power — also called cold ironing or Onshore Power Supply (OPS) — is the provision of electricity from the shore grid to a ship while it is berthed, so the vessel can shut down its auxiliary engines instead of running them to generate power in port. This eliminates the engine emissions and noise a ship would otherwise produce alongside.
By replacing burning fuel at berth with grid electricity (ideally from renewable sources), shore power sharply reduces air pollution and CO₂ in and around ports and cities — a major benefit where terminals sit near populated areas. It requires compatible high-voltage connection equipment on both ship and shore and significant port investment, and standards are still being harmonised. Regulation is accelerating adoption: the EU (via FuelEU Maritime and port rules) will require major ports to provide, and certain ships to use, shore power. Shore power is a key measure for cutting port-side emissions and part of the wider decarbonisation and clean-air agenda in shipping.
A ship idling its engines at berth pumps pollution straight into the port city — shore power lets it plug into the grid and switch them off, cutting local emissions and noise dramatically. With the EU now mandating it at major ports, shore power is moving from nice-to-have to requirement, making it a real infrastructure and compliance issue for ports and ships alike.
What is cold ironing?
Another name for shore power — connecting a berthed ship to shore electricity so it can turn off its engines.
Why does shore power matter for ports?
It cuts air pollution and CO2 around ports and cities, and the EU is beginning to require major ports to provide it and some ships to use it.