Greater Victoria Harbour Authority unveils plans to expand shore charging facilities for cruise ships

The board of directors of British Columbia’s Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) has confirmed that the organisation will proceed with the next stage of the shore power project for the Victoria Cruise Terminal at the Breakwater District.

The Ship Emission Mitigation Technology Assessment and Business Case created by consulting firm Moffat and Nichol indicates that a reduction of more than 46 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and criteria air contaminants (CACs) is achievable with the installation of shore power at two berths at Pier B, which welcomes 75 per cent of all cruise ship calls during a season. The reduction of GHG emissions and CACs is equivalent to 1,394 cars on the road per year.

The cost for the proposed solution is between CA$23.3 million (US$18.1 million) and CA$24.8 million (US$19.2 million). In contrast, the 2019 gross revenues for GVHA, a not-for-profit organisation, were CA$16.3 million (US$12.6 million).

GVHA claims that, due to Covid-19, the suspension of cruise sailings worldwide, and the remaining uncertainty about the resumption of cruise sailings in Canada and its financial impact to GVHA, the project cannot proceed until a stabilisation of the cruise industry is achieved and funding sources are determined.

The critical next steps in the project will focus on funding opportunities with partners and stakeholders and developing a power upgrade design and installation plan with BC Hydro.

Cruise ships are the largest emission source for the Breakwater District at Ogden Point, accounting for 96 per cent of total GHG emissions at the terminal in 2018, equivalent to 3,241 cars on the road per year. These findings were from the full-scale emissions inventory completed for GVHA by Synergy Enterprises in 2019, which subsequently supported the business case developed by Moffat and Nichol.

Of this 96 per cent, 29 per cent of emissions are produced while the vessels were navigating and manoeuvring into berth, and 71 per cent of emissions are produced while vessels are “hotelling” in port.

It is anticipated that by 2030, 85 per cent of all vessels calling to the Victoria Cruise Terminal will be shore power capable; that number is expected to increase to 95 per cent by 2040.

After extensive study of various shore power technologies, frequency conversion technology installed with the shore power connection was recommended to optimise for variability in types of cruise and non-cruise vessels, further adding to the long-term diversification of the deep-water port.