A significant maritime transformation unfolds as PortMiami embraces shore power for ships, with Carnival Conquest leading the charge as the first cruise vessel to plug into landside electrical power at the renowned cruise capital of the world. Representing Carnival Corporation & plc, the globe’s largest cruise company, Carnival Conquest’s momentous connection symbolizes a monumental shift towards sustainable practices within the cruise industry.
Through a groundbreaking partnership involving Miami-Dade County, Florida Power & Light Company, and multiple leading cruise lines including Carnival Corporation, PortMiami now stands as the pioneering major cruise port on the U.S. eastern seaboard, offering shore power connections at five cruise berths.
“This is an important milestone for our hometown, and we’re proud to support Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and all county and port officials for their amazing partnership in bringing shore power to PortMiami,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We continue to implement important initiatives that have kept us ahead of our ambitious goals to reduce emissions, and this new shore power capability will allow our ships to rely on the electrical grid to power our ships while in port.”
Carnival Conquest’s selection for the inaugural connection at PortMiami comes on the heels of Carnival Corporation surpassing its 2030 shore power goal in 2023, seven years ahead of schedule. The company now leads the industry with 67% of its fleet shore power-capable, meaning it has twice as many ships able to “plug in” than there are ports equipped to provide shore power.
“Using shoreside electricity to power our ships in port is an integral part of our global strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and minimize our environmental footprint,” said Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation & plc. “It’s been over 20 years since our company first pioneered shore power for the cruise industry, yet adoption remains limited to just 2% of cruise ports worldwide. We applaud PortMiami for having the vision to recognize shore power as vital to the future of our industry and the planet and for being at the forefront of their peer group in delivering this capability to cruise ships.”
Energy Efficiency and Reduced Fuel Use Shore power is an efficient way for cruise operators to switch off ship engines while in port and “plug in” to use energy from the local electric grid to power onboard systems and equipment. Using shore power can reduce total emissions by up to 98%, depending on the mix of energy sources. Carnival Corporation is committed to connecting to shoreside electricity in port when it is available and operationally feasible, and the company is working closely with ports around the world to prioritize investment in this important capability.
Carnival Corporation’s current shore power accomplishments include:
- Equipping two-thirds of the company’s global fleet – 64 ships – with shore power capabilities, prepared to “plug in” wherever port connections to electric power are available.
- Nearly half of its esteemed global portfolio of cruise lines boast fleets that are 100% fully shore power-capable.
- Three additional ships are slated for outfitted shore power capabilities this year, with a recent agreement with Switzerland-based technology company ABB Group facilitating the installation of an additional 30 shore power connections onboard Carnival Corporation ships over the next few years.
Advancing Sustainability Initiatives
Shore power stands as one of many emission reduction technologies employed by Carnival Corporation to curtail fuel consumption as part of its overarching decarbonization strategy, aiming for net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. Through aggressive and ongoing actions throughout the fleet, Carnival Corporation has achieved a reduction of over 10% in total GHG emissions since 2011, despite increasing capacity by approximately 30% during this period.
About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest global cruise company and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world-class cruise lines – AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises, and Seabourn.
Source Carnival Corporation