Cavotec has been awarded a contract by Nidec ASI, as part of a €12 mill deal to provide its ShorePower technology to five cruise ship berths at Malta’s Valletta Grand Harbour.
The project is part of a major EU funded initiative by Infrastructure Malta to electrify the entire harbour and reduce ship emissions by 90%.
Mikael Norin, Cavotec CEO, said: “Our ShorePower technology provides the perfect clean air alternative needed for historic ports such as Valletta. With almost a million shipboard tourists arriving every year, it is vital that the city can provide an environment they can enjoy.
“ShorePower provide clean energy to cruise liners within minutes of their arrival. This deployment could be the blueprint for many historic port cities around Europe. Cities, such as Venice, Lisbon, and Malta, all rely on a large proportion of sea-borne tourism traffic.
“We hope this contract will be the first of many as it proves how effective our ShorePower solutions can be,” he said.
Cavotec’s ShorePower solution has been designed to meet the specific requirements of Valletta and connect vessels over the entire port’s length.
It includes a mobile cable management system, PowerMove, to provide ship-to-shore connectivity. The PowerMove units are connected to the island’s energy infrastructure to power vessels while in port.
Four PowerMove units are designed to travel 45 m along a vessel’s berth, from the shore socket box to the vessel connection point. The fifth will extend a record length, spanning more than 55 m, to meet the specific requirements of the Deep Water Quay.
A remote-controlled telescopic arm adjusts to match the tide changes and the location of the power connections on cruise ships.
PowerMove can provide power to cruise vessels independently of their electrical requirement: 6.6 KV or 11Kv, in 50Hz or 60Hz. As a result, these units meet the variety of cruise ship configurations that utilise the port facilities.
With a sleek new design, the units will blend in aesthetically with their surroundings, providing the perfect complement to the historic surrounding of Valletta Harbour, Cavotec claimed.
