Hapag-Lloyd connects first ship to shore power
With the arrival of the “Dallas Express” at the Port of Oakland in California, at the beginning of December 2012, Hapag-Lloyd has for the first time connected one of its ships to shore-based power. Shore Power (also known as “cold-ironing”) is a ship-to-shore connection that provides electrical power to the ship, Maritime Propulsion reports. By using this connection the auxiliary engines normally used to provide power on board can be switched off, reducing diesel and other air pollutant emissions from ships while they are at berth. Other ports around the world are also working on shore-based power systems. The Port of Oakland recently completed installation of the 6,600 volt shore-based power supply after an initial test with Hapag-Lloyd last August. The “Dallas Express” is the first ship to use it now.
In California shore-based power will be mandatory for a certain percentage of ship calls by any particular shipping line with the beginning of 2014. Hapag-Lloyd is already preparing a total of 15 vessels for the High Voltage Shore Connection (HVSC) of which the “Dallas Express” was the project ship. A 40-foot container is located at the stern of the 4,860-TEU vessel. This contains electrical components and an extendable cable drum for the actual connection to the shore-based source. The drum automatically balances out tidal lift during lay time.
The special container has been jointly developed by Hapag-Lloyd and the Hamburg based company SAM Electronics. The modular shore connection system of SAM Electronics, SAMCon, is designed for installations on large and small container vessels with 450V/ 6.6. kV/11 kV. The development is in response to the huge exhaust gas emission from ships berthing at ports. It is in accordance with the requirements for environmental friendly power supplies within ports, mitigating air pollution and keeping civil health. The design can be used for the entire Hapag-Lloyd-Fleet, independent of shipboard voltage and the required power of a ship. In the event of a ship changing trade route, or maintenance of the container, the container can be swapped.
The special container has been jointly developed by Hapag-Lloyd and the Hamburg based company SAM Electronics.
As part of the Pacific Atlantic Express Service (PAX) the „Dallas Express“ connects 19 ports in North Europe (Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Thamesport), North America and Asia.
