Höegh Autoliners Completes Inaugural European Shore Power Connection

Pure car and truck carrier operator Höegh Autoliners has completed its inaugural connection to an onshore power supply in Europe, according to a report by industry publication ship.energy.

The development marks the first occasion that the vehicle carrier specialist has utilised shoreside electrical infrastructure during a port call within the European region. Connecting to national or regional electricity grids at berth enables merchant vessels to shut down auxiliary diesel generators while docked, reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and local air pollutants during cargo operations.

Cold ironing and shoreside power infrastructure have increasingly become a focal point across European ports as regulatory frameworks and terminal operators push to curtail emissions during vessel laytime. Maritime operators across various segments, including ro-ro and vehicle transport, are adapting fleet capabilities to interface with high-voltage shoreside electrical networks.

The adoption of shore power connections represents a key technical mechanism for shipping lines seeking to comply with regional environmental standards and port-level decarbonisation mandates. For deep-sea vehicle carriers such as those operated by Höegh Autoliners, retrofitting or building vessels with compatible electrical switchboards is required to establish seamless shore-to-ship power links.

Further technical details regarding the specific European terminal and vessel involved in the initial plug-in operation were published in the maritime technology update by ship.energy.