Shore power in shipping

Shore power is shifting from a local environmental measure to a mainstream operational and regulatory issue for shipowners. While originally introduced to reduce air pollution and noise in ports, new regulations in Europe, California, and parts of Asia are increasingly making shore power capability, and in some cases its use, a condition for cost-effective operations and even port access. As a result, shipowners trading into regulated regions are being pushed to treat shore power as part of baseline compliance planning, rather than a voluntary sustainability add-on.  

DNV’s white paper provides a structured overview of shore power technologies, standards, and operational implications, alongside a clear explanation of regulatory drivers such as FuelEU Maritime and the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) as well as regional drivers. It explains how trading patterns and berth‑level availability shape the business case.  

The paper highlights that around 7% of global shipping GHG emissions occur during port stays, making shore power a near‑term lever for emissions reduction at berth. A scenario‑based example illustrates how shore power can significantly reduce non‑compliance penalty costs for large containerships on exposed trades.  

While ship readiness for shore power is particularly rising fast in the passenger (including cruise and RoPax) and container segments, global port availability remains limited and uneven. The paper addresses the ‘chicken‑and‑egg’ dynamic between ships and ports and what is needed to scale the availability of shore power.  

Download the white paper for a structured assessment of shore power requirements and implications.