Gothenburg

In 2000 the Port of Gothenburg was the first port to introduce a high-voltage onshore power supply for cargo vessels. Prior to creation of this high-voltage connection the port already offered (and still offers) low-voltage shoreside electricity from as early as 1989 to three passenger/RoRo vessels (ROPAX).

Key role for cargo owner
The OPS connection is the result of collaboration between the port of Gothenburg, paper and forest products suppliers Stora Enso and shipping companies Wagenborg and Cobelfret. The high-voltage system was initiated by Stora Enso as a way of achieving a green logistic concept via the port of Gothenburg.

The system has been retrofitted to the terminal. It is capable of providing 6.6 and 10 kV at 50 Hz (1250 kVA) to ships through a transformer substation installed in the port. The ships take in 10 kV, converting this to 400 V using onboard transformers. The system makes use of a single high-voltage connector cable on a cable reel installed on the vessel.

The system controls are housed in 9-ft shipping containers installed on the quay. From here the operator is able to oversee the entire connection process, receiving a signal from the ship when power synchronization can start.

This systems is used by six RoRo ships operated by two different companies which have been adapted for use of the onshore power supply. The ships maintain regular feeder services. The Cobelfret ships also make use of OPS in the port of Zeebrugge.