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Shore power has been introduced for ships docked at PortMiami. Carnival Conquest, representing Carnival Corporation & plc , the world’s largest cruise company, celebrated its distinction as the first cruise ship to connect to landside electrical power at the cruise capital of the world.
Thanks to a partnership between Miami-Dade County, Florida Power & Light Company, and several cruise lines, including Carnival Corporation, PortMiami has become the first major cruise port on the U.S. eastern seaboard to offer shore power connections at five cruise berths.
“This is an important milestone for our hometown and we’re proud to support Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and all county and port officials for their amazing partnership in bringing shore power to PortMiami,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We continue to implement important initiatives that have kept us ahead of our ambitious goals to reduce emissions, and this new shore power capability will allow our ships to rely on the electrical grid to power our ships while in port.”
Carnival Conquest was chosen for the inaugural shore power connection at PortMiami following Carnival Corporation’s achievement of surpassing its 2030 shore power goal in 2023, seven years ahead of schedule. The company now leads the industry, with 67% of its fleet capable of connecting to shore power, boasting twice as many shore power-capable ships as there are ports equipped to provide it.
“Using shoreside electricity to power our ships in port is an integral part of our global strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and minimize our environmental footprint,” said Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation & plc. “It’s been over 20 years since our company first pioneered shore power for the cruise industry, yet adoption remains limited to just 2% of cruise ports worldwide. We applaud PortMiami for having the vision to recognize shore power as vital to the future of our industry and the planet, and for being at the forefront of their peer group in delivering this capability to cruise ships.”
Energy Efficiency and Reduced Fuel Use
Shore power offers a highly efficient solution for cruise operators to switch off their ship engines while in port, allowing them to “plug in” and draw energy from the local electric grid to power onboard systems and equipment. This practice can reduce total emissions by up to 98%, depending on the mix of energy sources. Carnival Corporation is committed to using shoreside electricity in ports where it is available and operationally feasible, working closely with ports worldwide to prioritize investment in this crucial capability.
Carnival Corporation’s Shore Power Achievements
- Shore Power-Equipped Fleet: Two-thirds of the company’s global fleet—64 ships—are equipped with shore power capabilities and ready to “plug in” where port connections are available.
- Fully Capable Fleets: Nearly half of Carnival Corporation’s world-class cruise lines have fleets that are 100% shore power-capable.
- Future Enhancements: An additional three ships will be outfitted with shore power capabilities this year. Additionally, a recent agreement with Switzerland-based technology company ABB Group will facilitate the installation of 30 more shore power connections on Carnival Corporation ships over the next few years.
Shore power is one of many emission reduction technologies employed by Carnival Corporation as part of its overall decarbonization strategy, aimed at achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. Due to aggressive and ongoing actions throughout the fleet, Carnival Corporation is now producing over 10% less total GHG emissions than in 2011, despite increasing capacity by approximately 30% during that time.
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