Electricity for vessels at port quays: infrastructure installation begins

Electrification operations of the first quays in Klaipėda Port is about to start – the contract for the installation of infrastructure was signed. Next year, the port will already have roll on – roll off ferries moored in the port, which will be supplied with electricity directly from the shore, thus reducing pollution and noise. This is not only a technological advancement, but also a real tool that will help make the port more sustainable.

“Klaipėda port is changing its face. The electrification of quays is not only a modern technology, but also a clear commitment to the city, the community and the environment. Imagine: vessels mooring at quays no longer emit smoke or noise – they use green electricity instead of fuel. The signed contract is the first concrete step towards this vision,” says Algis Latakas, CEO of Klaipėda Port Authority.

Three stations that will supply roll on – roll off ferries with electricity will be installed at Klaipėda Central Terminal and one – at Klaipėda Container Terminal in the southern part of the port. They are expected to be put into operation in 2026.

The successful tenderer, UAB Vakarų Resta, has been tasked with preparing the design, carrying out the construction operations of the foundations for transformer stations and preparing the infrastructure for laying the cables from the transformer stations to the quays. This work is expected to be completed by May. The contract amounts to EUR 238,000.

In Estonia, the completion of equipment for supply of electricity to ships at the port from the shore has been under way since the middle of the last year. It will be supplied, installed and all commissioning and adjustment operations will be carried out by BLRT ERA AS, Lithuania Branch.

For the implementation of this project, procurement procedures for the construction of the electricity grid are also under way. The contractor will be entrusted with laying the cable from the substation to the newly built transformer stations.

After the implementation of this infrastructure project, Klaipėda Port is planning to purchase electricity from suppliers who will generate it from renewable sources – wind and solar energy.

The project of the electrification of Klaipėda Port quays is partly financed under the Transport Programme of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). EU funding of EUR 8.6 million is earmarked for the project, which is worth around EUR 11 million.

The electrification of quays is also planned in those quays where container vessels and cruises, as well as Klaipėda Port fleet, are moored. The entire project to electrify the port quays is expected to be completed in 2028.

Today, ships calling at Klaipėda Port mainly use diesel. This fuel not only supplies the ship while it is moving, but also when it moors at the port. Diesel fuels its generators. According to the conclusions of scientists who assessed the impact of Klaipėda Port last year, the electricity supply infrastructure in quays would make a significant contribution to reducing emissions.