Blog post -
Port of Gothenburg wins award for work improving air quality
The Port of Gothenburg has been awarded one of the prestigious Energy Globe Awards 2011 for its work on shoreside power connection for ships. According to the Port, around one third of all vessels calling at Gothenburg now connect to shore side power, also known as 'cold ironing' and Alternative Maritime Power (AMP). The award and prize money of EUR 10,000 was presented at a ceremony in Austria on Friday, November 25.
Established in 1999, the Energy Globe World Awards seek to promote the use of clean, renewable energy sources. Awards are given in five categories: Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Youth. Winners are selected by a panel of experts drawn from the UN, the World Bank and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC).
Ships need power while berthed to run on-board services ranging from lighting, telecommunications and food preparation, to mooring and cargo handling. AMP enables vessels to switch off their engines while in port and connect to electrical power supply. This reduces diesel emissions in ports thus improving air quality in and around ports. Electrical power at the Port of Gothenburg is provided by wind turbines thus reducing the Port's environmental footprint to a minimum.
Working with partners in the industry, Cavotec has developed shore power technologies at ports across Northern Europe and in Canada and the US, such as the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach.
Susann Dutt, Sustainability Manager at the Port of Gothenburg, attributed the Port's success with shore power to close cooperation with customers.
She added: "Hopefully, the attention this [] will contribute to more ports and shipping companies investing in shoreside power supply."
The Port of Gothenburg has released a video showing Dutt receiving the award of behalf of the Port. The second part of this film includes footage of the newest cable system at the Port that supplies Stena Line ferries with electrical power - a cable system developed by Cavotec.
You can read a statement on the award released by the Port of Gothenburg here.
