Green Cable: Gothenburg Announces New Approach To Delivering Shore Power To Tankers

• Published date: 24 June 2022
• Subject Matter: Corporate/Commercial Law, Transport, Energy and Natural Resources, Corporate and Company Law, Energy Law, Marine/ Shipping
• Law Firm: Reed Smith (Worldwide)
• Author: Nick Austin and Ahmed Walley

The Gothenburg Port Authority has announced a new concept to provide shoreside power to tankers berthed at the Energy Terminal in a safe, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective way. In collaboration with shipping companies, European and national ports, classification societies, local oil companies, and the Swedish Transport Agency, it aims to set new global standards for delivery of shoreside power to tankers berthed in hazardous environments.

This concept is not without obstacles. Newly built tankers will need to be fitted with shoreside power connectors which adhere to a common standard applied at all ports. Additionally, there is an inherent risk of fire or an explosion where a vessel is berthed at an energy terminal as the electrical equipment could cause a spark where flammable products are being pumped.

Classification requires tankers at sea to have a power supply point which is located only aft of the bridge. Whilst this does not apply when a tanker arrives at an energy terminal, vessel builders have used this as a starting point in the design of vessels fitted with shoreside power connectors.

However, vessels vary in length considerably and often exceed 150 metres. By contrast, quays are often much shorter. Conventional design would require the building of connection cranes to...