Glossary

Onshore power supply (OPS)
A system to provide electricity from the local grid to ships to meet their power demand.

Shoreside electricity
See onshore power supply.

Onshore power system
See onshore power supply.

Cold Ironing
See onshore power supply.

Hotelling
See onshore power supply.

Auxiliary engine
An engine not used for propulsion but for other purposes like power generation.

Main engine
The ship’s engine that is used for propulsion. While underway, it may be used to produce electricity via a propeller shaft generator.

Diesel electric propulsion
Diesel engines that are used for electricity production. This setup can be used for electric propulsion (indirectly via electric motors) and for powering other electrical equipment and appliances.

Frequency converter
A device used to change AC frequency to the required level. Transformer A static electric device used to change the voltage to a required level.

CO₂
Carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas).

SO_X
Sulphur oxides (air pollutants).

NO_X
Nitrogen oxides (air pollutants).

PM
Particulate matter (an air pollutant).

IAPH
International Association of Ports and Harbors.

ISO
International Organization for Standardization.

kWh
A unit of energy given by the power consumption in watts multiplied by the duration of consumption in hours.

IEC
International Electrotechnical Commission.

IEEE
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

kWh
A unit of energy given by the power consumption in watts multiplied by the duration of consumption in hours.

High-voltage OPS
An OPS system running on high-voltage electricity, generally ranging from 6 kV to 11 kV.

Low-voltage OPS
An OPS system running on low-voltage electricity, generally ranging from 400 V to 690 V.

Synchronization
The process by which a ship gradually switches from power supplied by onboard generators to an onshore power supply. Synchronization makes continuous power supply possible during the switchover.

WPCI
World Ports Climate Initiative.

CARB
California Air Resources Board. EU European Union. MGO Marine Gas Oil (fuel type).

HFO Heavy Fuel Oil
(fuel type).

MDO Marine Diesel Oil
(fuel type).

LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
(fuel type).

IMO
International Maritime Organization.

Fuel boiler
Installation to heat fuel to a liquid state.

RoRo ship
A Roll-on/Roll-off ship used to transport trucks and trailers.

Ferry
A ship used to transport a combination of passengers and vehicles, normally between two or more fixed ports.

Cruise ship
A ship used to transport passengers for recreational (holiday) purposes.

Container ship
A ship used to transport goods that are distributed in containers.

WHO
World Health Organization.

Tanker
A ship used to transport liquids in bulk, for example heavy oil or edible oils.

SCR
Selective catalytic reduction (a post-combustion emission reduction technique to reduce NOx emissions).