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The port of Antwerp has become the latest location to announce the availability of shore power for seagoing ships with the launch of a trial project with Independent Container Line (ICL).

Seagoing ships belonging to ICL will henceforth be able to use a shore-based electricity supply when they are lying at berth. As a consequence they will no longer have to run their polluting onboard engines to generate power.

Earlier this week, Flemish minister-president Kris Peeters operated the switch supplying shore power to the first ICL vessel. Shore power is already available for barges, as well as the Port Authority’s tug and dredger fleet, floating cranes and dry dock complex. Soon it will also be supplied to pleasure craft and houseboats, the port said.

Until now, plug-in shoreside power - also known as "cold-ironing" - has not been available to seagoing ships, the segment which in view of its size has the most powerful effect on environmental performance.

The IMT terminal is dedicated to ICL, which has already equipped three of its four ships to make use of this shore power facility.

In a statement, the Port Authority said it attaches a great deal of importance to the cold ironing project, as shore power forms an integral part of its approach to combating air pollution on a local scale. Using shore power reportedly cuts CO2 emissions by more than half and NOx emissions by as much as 97%, while CO emissions are practically eliminated.

The total investment cost of the shore power facilities amounts to 1,117,829 euros, with IMT receiving financial support from the Port Authority and the Flemish Community.

"By supporting the shore power project, Antwerp Port Authority is also helping to meet its commitment for practical, port-related measures contributing towards the implementation of the particulates action plan drawn up at the end of last year by the Flemish Government, Antwerp City Council and the Port Authority itself," the Port of Antwerp said.