Carnival Corp has equipped Cunard’s three ships with the ability to connect to shore power, increasing its number of vessels with this feature.
Carnival has outfitted the 2,691-berth Queen Mary 2 (built 2003), the 2,061-berth Queen Victoria (built 2007) and the 2,081-berth Queen Elizabeth (built 2010) with the capability.
It plans to give the Queen Anne, a 3,000-berth newbuilding slated for delivery in May 2024, the same connectivity before her maiden voyage.
Shore power technology enables docked ships to connect to a land-based source of electricity so that vessels can turn off their on-board engines and run on electricity from the local electrical grid.
Many major ports accommodate this capability, including Queen Mary 2’s homeport at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in New York City and Queen Anne’s homeport in Southampton, England.
“By adopting shore power technology, we are taking a significant step in our ongoing commitment to reducing emissions, minimizing our carbon footprint and fostering healthier port environments,” Cunard president Katie McAlister said in a statement.
“The introduction of shore power technology aligns seamlessly with Cunard’s corporate vision and values, and we are proud to be able to take such a positive step.”
As of February, 57% of Carnival’s 92-ship fleet was able to connect to shore power, including all of Princess Cruises’ 15 ships and five vessels out of Carnival Cruise Line’s 22-vessel fleet.
“Collectively across the fleet, our goal is to have 60% of entire fleet shore power capable by 2030,” spokeswoman Jody Venturoni told TradeWinds.
