Port of HaminaKotka has appointed engineering firm ABB as the main contractor for a new shore power system at the Mussalo port in Finland.

The project will add shore power connections to six berths in the Mussalo B and C sections, allowing container ships to plug into the local electricity grid while in port instead of running their engines, the port said in a statement on its website on Monday. For ports and shipping lines, shore power installations are becoming a more visible part of port infrastructure planning as emissions rules tighten across Europe, because they allow vessels to draw electricity on the quay rather than relying on onboard fuel while alongside.

Port of HaminaKotka secured just over €3 million from the EU’s CEF Transport Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) programme to support the project.

ABB’s scope of work will include the design, installation and commissioning of the shore power system, along with the necessary infrastructure, cabling and grounding. The connections will be built to international IEC standards.

The project is part of the port’s preparations for the FuelEU Maritime regulation, which from 2030 will require container and passenger ships above 5,000 GT to use shore power or another equivalent zero-emission technology while calling at EU ports, subject to certain exemptions.

"ABB has strong global expertise in maritime electrification solutions, and we believe that this will create excellent conditions for successful cooperation," Eija Rossi, CEO of Port of HaminaKotka, said.