Cavotec has announced the opening of two Alternative Maritime Power (AMP) systems at Stena Line's terminal in Hoek van Holland (Rotterdam), the Netherlands, Port Technology reports.
In partnership with Stena Line, ABB, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure, Cavotec’s shore power systems are the first to be introduced at the Port of Rotterdam for sea-going vessels.
Cavotec AMP systems enable vessels to switch off their engines while docked and to connect to shore side electricity to power services such as lighting, heating and food preparation. The system helps to reduce fuel consumption and cut particulate matter emissions, thus helping improve air quality in ports and surrounding communities.
Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment, Melanie Schultz van Haegen, inaugurated the AMP systems at a ceremony attended by representatives from the primary partners in the project including Stena Line, ABB, and the Port of Rotterdam.
Local officials, dignitaries, and business leaders were also present.
“These projects demonstrate what ports can achieve when we pool engineering expertise to develop innovative, integrated solutions,” said Sietse Nap, Managing Director Cavotec Netherlands.
“We work with a number of trusted partners to develop AMP systems and other technologies for the ports sector and elsewhere.”
Cavotec’s involvement in the projects included the supply of two shore-to-ship interface cable management systems that ensure the safe and quick connection of shore side electrical supply to four Stena Line ferries. Radio remote control units, also supplied by Cavotec, operate the AMP units.
One of the two units is a cable dispenser system that connects electrical power to the Stena Transit and Stena Transporter: two freight ferries that sail between Hoek van Holland and Killinghome on the east coast of the UK.
The other system is installed at Stena Line’s passenger ferry berth that serves the Stena Britannica and Stena Hollandica on the Hoek van Holland to Harwich route.
“The systems at Hoek van Holland have been tested since March this year and local residents are already reporting improvements in air quality and reductions in noise pollution,” says Nap.
Cavotec has worked on a large number of similar AMP installations across Europe, and at ports on the US west coast, Canada and the Far East.
In May this year, Cavotec announced multiple AMP orders from the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Oakland. The Port of Los Angeles has also used the technology at several container berths for many years.
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