MSC ships to use shore power in the Port of Hamburg

Ships of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) — the world’s largest container shipping line — will be supplied with shore power in the Port of Hamburg in the future.

The shipping company has signed an agreement with the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) regarding the supply of electricity to MSC ships at the Eurogate Group’s Hamburg Container Terminal (CTH).

This makes MSC the first shipping company to use shore power for both cruise and container vessels. Other shipping companies are expected to follow suit shortly.

As informed, other container terminals in the Port of Hamburg are currently being equipped with shore power systems. By expanding the shore power supply for both cruise ships and container ships, Hamburg is sending a clear signal for environmental protection and increasing the attractiveness of the port due to the constantly growing global demand for climate-neutral and environmentally friendly logistics chains.

“The expansion of shore power supply is an important project in the port for fewer emissions and more climate protection. We are now jointly advancing this technology: Hamburg is setting up the technology on land. But it also needs ships that use electricity from renewable energies and shipping companies that create the appropriate conditions. We are in good discussions with the customers of the Port of Hamburg on this. The fact that MSC, as the world’s largest container shipping company, is moving forward with us on this project is a big step towards more climate protection in the port,” Melanie Leonhard, Hamburg’s Senator for Economic, commented.

“After we signed a joint letter of intent with MSC Cruises on the use of shore power in the Port of Hamburg in June last year, I am delighted that MSC now wants to work with us to make shipping and port operations more environmentally friendly by using shore power for container ships in the Port of Hamburg,” Friedrich Stuhrmann, Chief Commercial Officer of HPA, said.

“Hamburg and its port are important to us. That is why we are happy to take advantage of the Hamburg Port Authority’s offer to use shore power for our ships during layovers. As MSC, we are pleased to contribute to improving air quality in the Hanseatic city. As an international transport company, we see it as our responsibility to reduce CO2 emissions through innovative measures. This is another step on our way to net-zero and a more sustainable future,” Nils Kahn, Managing Director of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company Germany, pointed out.

The plant at the CTH, which was completed this year, has three connection points, each with an output of 7.5 megavolt amperes. The electricity used comes 100 percent from renewable sources.

In the cruise segment, HPA already has agreements on the use of shore power with the Carnival Group and the shipping companies TUI Cruises, Fred Olsen, Princess Cruises, Phoenix Reisen and Norwegian Cruise Line.

A new shore power system for cruise ships went into operation at the Cruise Center Steinwerder in April 2024. The new cruise terminal in HafenCity is currently under construction and is to be equipped with a shore power system from the outset; the terminal is expected to be completed in 2025.