Helsingborg to debut shore power for container vessels

The Port of Helsingborg has announced plans for its first Onshore Power Supply (OPS) facility for container vessels in partnership with Actemium.

Helsingborg to debut shore power for container vessels

With commissioning planned for autumn 2026, container vessels will be able to connect to electricity at berth in the Container Terminal using shore power technology.

In 2019, the Environmental Permit Authority ruled that the Port of Helsingborg must be able to offer shore-side power connections for container vessels within seven years. With this new OPS facility, the port will reportedly meet both that requirement and future technical demands.

The planned facility will have a capacity of up to 3.5 megawatts (MW) – equivalent to the energy needs of a typical feeder container vessel and compliant with international standards. The output is comparable to the simultaneous electricity consumption of approximately 2,000 residential homes.

OPS technology allows vessels to shut down their auxiliary engines while berthed and instead use electricity from the local grid. This drastically reduces emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, hydrocarbons and particulate matter. In the future, the climate and air quality benefits could add up to savings of as much as 8,000 tonnes of CO₂, 100 tonnes of NOₓ and up to 5 tonnes of SOₓ annually.

Electrically powered vessels, such as Svitzer’s new hybrid tugboat, are already entering operations at the Port. OPS will become a natural part of that growing infrastructure.

Starting in 2030, the European Union will require larger vessels to use shore power while at berth. Port of Helsingborg’s investment is therefore aligned with both national climate goals and upcoming European regulations. For shipping lines focused on reducing emissions, access to OPS will be an increasingly important factor in port selection.

The first facility will be installed at the quay in the Container Terminal, where both the power infrastructure and vessel traffic make it well-suited for the technology. Port of Helsingborg already offers shore power for ferries in the City Port and is now preparing to expand capacity for the container segment.

OPS may not be the solution for every vessel type, but for those with onboard compatibility, the environmental benefits can be significant.

“Becoming the first Port in Scandinavia to offer shore power for container vessels is a major milestone in our climate transition,” said Bart Steijaert, CEO of Port of Helsingborg.

“It demonstrates our commitment to a fossil-free future and strengthens our offer to shipping lines with high sustainability ambitions. With this investment, we are not only meeting future environmental requirements – we are leading the way.”

“Being able to connect to electricity immediately upon arrival is something we’ve long called for,” said Gunnlaugur Grettisson, Managing Director, Eimskip Sweden.

“It significantly reduces our port-side emissions and helps us reach our own climate targets.”

Earlier this week, the Bilbao Port Authority awarded a €11.49 million ($13.2 million) contract for the design, installation, and two-year maintenance of solar photovoltaic (PV) plants to supply its OPS system.