Vessels berthing at the Italian port of Genoa will be able to plug into the national grid following a EUR 8m ($9.82m) infrastructure deal.
The Italian subsidiary of Japan-based Nidec Corporation has signed a contract with the West Ligurian Sea Port Authority to design and construct the shore-to-ship project.
Nidec says the project is in response to the need for authorities to comply with directives of the European Union, which has been pressing for the adoption of shore-to-ship electrical systems to cut vessel emissions in ports.
SoX, NoX, C02 and particulate matter are described as “significant sources of pollution” in densely populated areas.
Nidec says plugging into the national grid and avoiding the use of onboard diesel generators also reduces noise pollution that disturbs both local inhabitants and tourists.
Cutting emissions, especially from cruiseships, has become a controversial issue in both northern Europe, including the Norwegian fjords, and Mediterranean ports such as Venice.
Italy is said to have 42 ports along its 7,500km coastline.
Nidec Industrial Solutions in 2013 supplied a variable frequency drive unit for creation of a shore-to-ship emissions and pollution reduction system at the Port of Livorno, including supplying electricity to cruise vessels docked in the port.
