Gothenburg to set up shore power for tankers
In the Port of Gothenburg, a new concept provides shoreside power for tankers in a hazardous environment (Source: Gothenburg Port Authority)
The Port of Gothenburg has established a working group to develop shoreside power for tankers berthed at its Energy Terminal. Working with Swedish tanker owners and other interested parties, the Gothenburg port authority aims to establish a new global standard to make shore power available for tankers berthed in a hazardous environment.
Although shore power in Gothenburg has been available for many years, providing the service for tankers has remained a challenge. That is because classification society rules for tankers specify that any power supply point must be located aft of the bridge.
Port regulations, however, take precedence when tankers dock, and these rules define the entire tanker as an explosive atmosphere, the Energy Terminal’s production engineer, Jörgen Wrennfors, explained. The wide variation in tanker length is also a key issue.
The port is now proposing a new standard where the power connection point is located at the centre of the tanker close to their loading cranes. As a result, tanker length becomes less of an issue.
Meanwhile, the risk of connecting cables in a potentially explosive environment is likely to be overcome by using overpressure in the spaces where the cable is housed and connected. In this way, explosive gases would be excluded, making the facility safe, Wrennfors said.
Development of the system is being partially funded with SEK 10.7 million from the Swedish Government’s Climate Investment Support Programme. Various Swedish tanker owners have already ordered vessels ready to use the new shore power technology when it becomes available early in 2024.
