In an Australian first, Port Authority of NSW is in the process of delivering shore power for cruise ships at its White Bay Cruise Terminal.
Shore power will provide landside electricity to cruise ships berthed at the White Bay Cruise Terminal, which will be matched by purchased renewable electricity. This means cruise ships don’t need to rely on their diesel generators to operate onboard systems when in port, reducing vessel emissions and noise for neighbouring communities.
By the end of 2026, project construction is expected to be completed, with cruise ships set to begin testing and connecting to shore power during the 2026-27 summer cruise season.
Cruise ships need to run their engines or generators even when at berth, so they can continue to power onboard operations – such as cargo handling, communications and safety systems, lighting, cooking, air conditioning and refrigeration for passengers and crew.
Shore power allows ships to plug into electricity from the shore, reducing the need to run most of their onboard engines while in port. This reduces carbon emissions, noise and air pollution, particularly when the electricity comes from renewable sources.
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Port Authority will provide landside electricity for cruise ships at White Bay Cruise Terminal, which will be matched by purchased renewable electricity, and is estimated to achieve a reduction of up to 4,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum.
This would be the equivalent to taking 1,100 cars off Sydney’s roads or planting 20,000 trees each year.
As well as the significant reduction in carbon emissions, the introduction of shore power could see a reduction in noise from cruise ships of up to 10dB. Powering down the ships’ engines which normally burn diesel fuel will also reduce air pollution.The delivery of shore power at the White Bay Cruise Terminal will support the cruise industry to meet their own sustainability and carbon emissions reductions.
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The development of this project wouldn’t be possible without the collaboration and support of our cruise industry partners. Industry and government have engaged in a joint letter of intent, as the participation of both sectors is needed to ensure the successful transition to a lower emissions future.
Our valued partners Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and MSC Cruises are committed to the future use of Shore Power at White Bay Cruise Terminal and will ensure that future frequently visiting ships are capable of connecting to our Shore Power facilities.
Shore power requires specialised infrastructure installed onsite to operate. Key components include an Onshore Power System (OPS) to convert mains power to the voltage required by ships, a network of underground cables to deliver power through the site to the berth, the Cable Management System (CMS) which connects to the ships allowing them to plug in and a cooling system to maintain the right temperature of the OPS.
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The Onshore Power Supply (OPS) system is the heart of the shore power infrastructure at White Bay Cruise Terminal. It converts incoming electricity from the local grid into the voltage and frequency required by cruise ships, allowing them to switch off diesel generators while in at berth. The converted electricity from the OPS travels through an underground cable network at White Bay Cruise Terminal to the Cable Management System, which connects to the ships.
The OPS system converts power from 33,000 volts to either 11,000 volts or 6,600 volts, and from 50Hz to 60Hz to match the cruise ships’ onboard electricity profile. The OPS system is used globally in shore power infrastructure.
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The underground power supply route will stretch approximately 4 kilometres from Rozelle Substation to the OPS at White Bay Cruise Terminal. An underground network of electricity cables and conduits will then run from the OPS across the terminal to Berth 5, as well as along the wharf, connecting to the CMS, which plugs directly into the docked cruise ship to provide a landside power connection.
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The mobile Cable Management System connects to an underground energy chain spanning 248 metres along the wharf and carries high-voltage power cables to the cruise ship. Once connected to the ship’s onboard electrical system, the vessel can shut down its diesel generators and run on electricity supplied via the OPS.
Shore power seawater cooling system
Onshore Power Supply (OPS) systems need to be cooled when operating. Our shore power system uses seawater from Sydney Harbour as a natural cooling source. By drawing in seawater to regulate the temperature of its electrical equipment inside the OPS system, it eliminates the need for traditional air conditioning when cruise ships are connected to shore power.