Company insight
A shore power solution for sustainability
As more destinations around the world look to minimise the impact of cruise vessels on the local environment, many are demanding that ships use high-voltage connections for shore power to cut noise and emissions. Antoin Kuenen, commercial manager of Croonwolter&dros, discusses the benefits and challenges of refitting vessels in dry dock and at sea.
he sight of a large cruise vessel approaching port can be an exciting experience for both passengers and local residents, some seeking the thrill of a new destination, others eagerly waiting to provide a warm welcome. If that vessel sits by the quayside running its engines to power its on-board systems, however, the noise and the emissions can soon make it an unwelcome presence among local residents. It is for this reason that more ports and destinations are introducing the requirement that ships switch to shore power for the duration of their stay.
T
populated, are following suit, and more destinations will do the same if the population density near the port is high.” Based in the Netherlands and with its headquarters in Rotterdam, Croonwolter&dros is a leading provider of electrical and mechanical engineering solutions. Established in 1876, it has remained at the forefront of new technological developments for over a century, providing hi-tech solutions for a range of industries, including cruise, data centres, energy, food and leisure. “Cruise is as important as all the other segments in which we operate,
“Environmental considerations are driving the need for more high-voltage shore connections rather than the ship using its own power and creating noise and exhaust.”
“Environmental considerations are driving the need for more high-voltage (HV) shore connections rather than the ship using its own power and creating noise and exhaust,” observes Antoin Kuenen, commercial manager of Croonwolter&dros. “We see this particularly in smaller ports where [residents] live nearby. They want ships to shut off their engines and use the available shore power.”
“Those regulations are local in nature,” he adds. “They are not coming from countries or international regulatory bodies, unlike the requirement for exhaust gas cleaning in ECA areas, for example. We are seeing it a lot on the west coast of the US, including Alaska, which is much more environmentally oriented than the east coast, though we are also starting to see it there. Scandinavia and more locations in Europe, where ports are heavily
36
and although we provide a range of power solutions, we focus on HV shore connections,” says Kuenen. “More and more ships need one or sometimes two HV shore connections so they can embark passengers at certain destinations, so the changes in local regulations are good for our business.”
Refitting at sea
Croonwolter&dros provides turnkey shore connection solutions, handling everything from the installation of hardware and cabling to integration and final commissioning, including all aspects of engineering. Key to the company’s services to the cruise industry, in which it works with many major operators, including Carnival, is its focus on cost- efficiency and flexibility. It understands the challenges its clients are facing as they emerge from a pandemic that was financially damaging.
“Cost is particularly important as ships have been laid over, anchored or in dry dock for two years,” says Kuenen. “Getting a ship ready for passengers is a big project, and many projects were put on hold – even though the opportunity was there when the ships were not in service – because they were not generating revenue. “We can fit HV shore connections in dry dock or when a ship is in operation,” he adds. “It is challenging but we have the experience. After the intense part of the pandemic, the ships are sailing again to generate revenue, so they don’t want to stop the ships for refitting.” Kuenen’s advice for cruise operators facing the burden of local regulations that require HV shore connections, which will no doubt spread to more ports around the world, is to start planning for the refit early. By doing this, operators can avoid disappointment and ensure that their cruise plans are successful and free of any issues.
“The challenge at the moment is the availability of all the materials like HV cables and switchboards,” he explains. “So you can’t just decide to start next week, as there is a long lead time – sometimes up to 30 weeks – for key materials. So cruise lines need to start planning early, at least one year before they need it.”
“More and more ports and destinations need a mandatory shore connection and that could cause problems with itineraries if a ship does not meet the requirements,” he adds. “But the solutions are there and we can fit shore connections while a vessel is at sea and generating revenue. So, these challenges can be overcome with the right partner for electrical and mechanical engineering.” ●
www.cruiseshoreconnections.com World Cruise Industry Review /
www.worldcruiseindustryreview.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65
