A new onshore power connection for passenger ships was completed next to the Olympia Terminal at the South Harbour in Helsinki at the end of last year. However, the commissioning of the system was delayed due to ongoing travel restrictions. As passenger traffic has begun to recover, the port says testing of the system has been completed and the onshore power supply is now available to ship traffic.
While ships are berthed in port, the port operators claim the onshore power supply will reduce emissions by between 50–80%. “This environmental investment improves air quality and reduces both carbon dioxide emissions and noise in the center of Helsinki,” said Ville Haapasaari, CEO of the Port of Helsinki, adding, “for us, the use of an onshore power supply at the port is an important step towards a carbon-neutral port by 2035. In the near future, we will also be starting several similar onshore power investments in other parts of the port.”
Onshore power connections were previously implemented for the Tallink Silja ships operating from the Olympia Terminal in 2018-2019.