International shipping contributes with approximately 3 % of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Amongst other measures to reduce ship emissions in port and city environment, Onshore Power Supply (OPS) has been suggested and implemented in many advanced ports globally.
While Mauritius emits 0.01% of the global carbon dioxide emissions, the government is committed to holding to its international commitment of reducing by 40% our GHG emissions by 2030. To this end, government has launched a multi-fold strategy aiming at increasing the contribution of renewable energy to 60% of the electricity mix by 2030.
Within the identified port actions to be promoted and facilitated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution MEPC 323(74) of May 2019, is the provision of Onshore Power Supply (OPS) from renewable sources. The costs and benefits of OPS are dependent on characteristics such as grid factor, electricity price, grid conditions, etc. As a first step, the Mauritius Ports Authority decided to focus on cruise ships as it was on the point of developing the infrastructure for the Port Louis Cruise Terminal facility.
The objective of the Feasibility Study was to evaluate the available options for at-berth vessel emission reductions at the Port Louis Cruise Terminal. Based on the results of the Study, the OPS has the potential to reduce approximately 3,000 tons of CO2 annually. Recognizing that ships do not operate independently from shore-based entities in the marine transportation systems, the Consultants were also required to analyze activities, more specifically those of harbor tugs and cargo handling equipment creating air pollutant emissions in Port Louis Harbor and examine various technological and operational solutions for reducing the pollution and compare their feasibility.