The port of Naples will have electric docks: cruise ships will be able to turn off their engines

The large pier in the Port of Naples, where cruise ships dock, will soon be electrified, allowing vessels to turn off their engines and significantly reduce pollution in the city center. This project, launched by the Naples Port Authority, will see construction begin in the next two weeks, as ANSA has learned. The facility, known as "cold ironing," will be the most advanced of its kind and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Shore-based electrification of cruise ships, already available in a few ports around the world, including Los Angeles, Kiel, Germany, and Rotterdam, will now be implemented in Naples. This system will allow up to three ships to be connected to the shore-based power grid simultaneously, allowing them to shut down their auxiliary engines, which currently use marine diesel fuel, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions while in port.

The project, which also involves the port of Salerno, is financed with 40 million euros from the funds of the PNRR, of which 26,8 million will go to Naples and 19,8 million to Salerno. In Naples, three docks will be built at the cruise ship terminal on the Angioino pier, with a total capacity of 45 megawatts, enough to simultaneously recharge three cruise ships.

Currently, cruise ships that stop in port all day must run their auxiliary engines to maintain onboard services, emitting significant amounts of greenhouse gases. With the electrification of docks, these ships will be able to turn off their engines and connect to shore power, thus eliminating emissions during their stay.

"The Port of Naples now welcomes two cruise ships from all over the world every day, making the city a major tourist destination," declared Andrea Annunziata, president of the Port Authority of Naples. We are committed to protecting the health of Naples' citizens, following the EU's plan for a greener Europe. This plan also extends to Salerno, which hosts many cruise ships.

One of the main obstacles to cold ironing is the high cost of electricity, higher than that of a condominium. The Port of Naples is organizing a cost-sharing program, thanks in part to EU funding. Recently, the European Commission approved a €570 million Italian scheme to incentivize ships to use electricity supplied by land-based grids.