Cruise Ships Can Now Connect to Shore Power at PortMiami

PortMiami has officially introduced shore power, allowing cruise ships to connect to electricity while docked, significantly reducing their need to burn fuel and cut greenhouse gas emissions and noise.

The port can supply up to 16 megawatts per ship, sourced from individual Florida Power and Light substations at each terminal, according to the Miami Herald. The electricity consumption of one docked cruise ship is comparable to that of approximately 10,000 households for a day.

Executives from five major cruise companies—Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Group, Virgin Voyages, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises—attended a celebratory event on Monday.

“Shore power has been my personal dream and initiative,” said Daniella Levine Cava, mayor of Miami-Dade County. “Shore power is a great example of progress in tourism and clean energy converging. Together, we are creating jobs, expanding our economy, and preparing to meet the dynamic needs of tomorrow.”

Carnival Conquest was the first ship to utilize the landside electrical power in Miami. Upcoming ships to connect include Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas, Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Joy, and MSC Cruises’ Magnifica. PortMiami aims to connect 21 individual vessels to shore power by the end of this year, totaling 350 vessel calls.

Carnival’s executives expressed their excitement about the new shore power capability in Miami. The company met its 2030 shore power goal seven years early in 2023, and now two-thirds of its fleet can connect to shore power.

“Using shoreside electricity to power our ships in port is an integral part of our global strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize our environmental footprint,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc. “It’s been over 20 years since our company first pioneered shore power for the cruise industry, yet adoption remains limited to just 2% of cruise ports worldwide. We applaud PortMiami for having the vision to recognize shore power as vital to the future of our industry and the planet, and for being at the forefront of their peer group in delivering this capability to cruise ships.”

With this new development, PortMiami is leading the way in sustainability, setting a benchmark for other ports worldwide.