The Haropa Port project team responsible for connecting cruise ships to the power supply travelled to Tallinn, Estonia, in early January to take delivery of the first cable-carrying lorry, which will enable ships to be connected to the shore power facilities.

An impressive heavy goods vehicle

This first ‘Cable Management System’ lorry is impressive: weighing 20 tonnes, it is fitted with an articulated arm that enables ships to be connected to the electrical cabinets installed on the three quays at the Pointe de Floride – the Pierre Callet, Hermann du Pasquier and Joannès Couvert quays.

Three kilometres of 20,000-volt high-voltage cables were laid by Enedis at the cruise terminal in early 2024, which will power giant electrical sockets to connect ships whose electricity requirements are equivalent to around 1,000 homes.

The lorry is fitted with eight XXL power sockets, each weighing 15 kg.

Two lorries on order

The order was for two lorries. The first vehicle is due to arrive in Le Havre in early March 2025 for a trial period.

Florian Weyer, Director of Haropa Port Le Havre, stated that “modifications were necessary to adapt these vehicles to the specific conditions of the Port of Le Havre, particularly the tidal range, which can exceed 8 metres”.

100 tonnes of CO₂ per port call

All the quays at Pointe de Floride will be electrified by 2026, thereby ensuring smoke-free port calls. Indeed, the ships’ engines will be switched off as soon as they are moored. This prevents 100 tonnes of CO₂ and 2 tonnes of other polluting emissions during a ship’s 12-hour port call. That is the equivalent of 17 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The electrification of the quays cost €32 million, of which €13.6 million was funded by France Relance.

Source: Paris Normandie 28 January 2025 / Photo: DR