Peru’s Port of Callao has deployed an Onshore Power Supply (OPS) system at DP World Callao’s Muelle Sur Container Terminal, enabling compatible vessels to switch off auxiliary diesel generators while berthed. The technology is designed to reduce fuel consumption, local air pollution, greenhouse-gas emissions and noise, while supporting the port’s wider electrification and decarbonisation strategy. The project strengthens Callao’s position as a green maritime hub and reflects the growing adoption of shore power across the global shipping industry as ports and carriers pursue lower-emission operations.
Callao, Peru | August 13, 2026 – In a milestone development for regional maritime logistics, Peru’s Port of Callao has officially activated an Onshore Power Supply (OPS) system at DP World Callao’s Muelle Sur (South Pier) Container Terminal. The launch makes the terminal the first in Latin America to offer high-voltage shore power to container ships, allowing berthed vessels to plug into landside electricity and shut down their auxiliary diesel generators.
The debut places Callao at the forefront of the region’s port electrification drive, marrying cutting-edge terminal infrastructure with global shipping’s growing push toward decarbonization.
Bridging Port Electrification and Clean Energy
The milestone deployment follows years of structured planning and regulatory alignment. Approved via environmental modifications by Peru’s Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) and backed by the National Port Authority (APN), the shore-power project forms a core pillar of DP World’s wider sustainability roadmap.
Regulatory bodies such as Ositrán initially tracked the investment package at US$2.5 million specifically for the shore power infrastructure, nested inside broader multi-million-dollar modernization efforts at the terminal. Crucially, the environmental integrity of the project is amplified by the source of the power: electricity supplied to the berth is backed by 100% I-REC-certified renewable sources.
By integrating clean landside energy with vessel-at-berth demands, the initiative targets an estimated reduction of over 6,300 to 8,680 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually, alongside slashing local nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter by more than 90%.
Technical Mechanics: How Shore Power Alters the Port Stay
For decades, container ships have relied on continuous auxiliary diesel combustion while docked to power critical onboard networks—including refrigerated containers (reefers), ventilation, lighting, and navigation systems.
With the new OPS installation at Muelle Sur:
- The Connection: Compatible vessels establish a high-voltage electrical link with the terminal grid shortly after berthing.
- The Switch: Once synchronized, the ship transfers its electrical load to landside power, allowing engineers to safely throttle down auxiliary fossil-fuel engines.
- The Result: Immediate abatement of local port noise, drastic cuts in particulate emissions, and a structural shift in how fuel is consumed during port rotation.
Implications for Marine Fuel Demand and Bunkering
For the marine fuels and energy sectors, the introduction of shore power represents a fundamental evolution in port-call energy dynamics rather than an outright displacement of conventional bunkering.
While auxiliary fuel consumption while docked is minimized or eliminated, main engines and propulsion fuels remain vital for open-sea voyages. However, the economic and operational viability of the system depends heavily on a set of core variables:
- Fleet Readiness: DNV estimates that only about 20% of global container ships are currently equipped for shore power, contrasted with a mere 3% of ports worldwide offering the infrastructure.
- Regulatory Momentum: With international frameworks like Europe’s FuelEU Maritime, and tightening regional mandates globally, posing strict at-berth emission penalties, early adoption gives Callao a decisive competitive edge.
- Dual-Demand Matrix: Bunker suppliers must increasingly view port stays and deep-sea transits through separate lenses, tracking how shore-side electrification trims auxiliary fuel volumes while voyage requirements remain tied to speed, routing, and alternative marine fuels.
A Strategic Hub for Regional Decarbonization
As DP World pursues its broader target of reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 90% by 2030 through a wider US$100 million-plus decarbonization framework, Callao’s transformation extends well beyond the Muelle Sur quayside. The terminal has already integrated electric internal transfer vehicles (ITVs) and Latin America’s first dedicated port electric charging hub, creating an end-to-end green logistics ecosystem.
For Latin America’s maritime corridor, Callao’s successful deployment serves as a vital proof-of-concept. As global carriers increasingly filter vessel deployments based on environmental infrastructure availability, the Port of Callao has signaled that South America’s primary gateways are ready to compete on the global stage for sustainable trade.
Source: APN