Shore power for cruise ships

[Keith Tindell]

On the local news this morning, Southampton set to be the first to install the system. I think there are worries on the sudden drain on the power, kt

[Tom Bostock]

I do not think that the power surge would be significant if the synchronisation was carried out correctly. It would definitely not be an onerous situation!

[Keith Tindell]

Hi Tom,i am really only repeating the concerns that the persons who are dealing with this are expressing. I know in the past for example , the power companies have stated that at half time in the FA cup final, everyone brews a cuppa, and they have a tremendous surge, so a cruise ship is akin to a small town i suppose, and if not monitored, could cause a huge drain. Much as the power companies have stated that the advent of electric cars and charging could be a problem unless action of some sort is taken, as said these are only points of view i read about, the intricacies are well beyond my knowledge, changing a plug is the extend of my skills, kt

[Tony Taylor]

They could run their own generators and supply power at the required voltage and frequency.
They could use mains gas for fuel which is still the cheapest form of fuel available, any excess could be sold off into the grid.
They are installed in many hospitals who also utilise the heat as well to assist heating in hospital buildings also.
They are available as self contained units in standard 20ft containers, so could be run in multiples, the ones I have seen can output up to 9.5Mw (made by Jenbacher (GE company), V24 format.

[vic mcclymont]

Gas still produces Co2, and under one of the Climate Change meetings gas as fuel is to be phased out.
Over 500 ships dock in Soton annually, which is approximately ten ships per week.
In one day six cruise ships visited the port. The base load of each cruise ships is about on average 5MW, which means at least 30mW of generator capacity.
It will require a lot of detailed planning, costing before any of it comes to fruition.
Vic

[Tony Taylor]

Gas still produces Co2, and under one of the Climate Change meetings gas as fuel is to be phased out.
Over 500 ships dock in Soton annually, which is approximately ten ships per week.
In one day six cruise ships visited the port. The base load of each cruise ships is about on average 5MW, which means at least 30mW of generator capacity.
It will require a lot of detailed planning, costing before any of it comes to fruition.
Vic

I take your point Vic, but if they are serious about it, it would probably be the cleanest and easiest option available currently. I doubt if the grid could cope, and if it could, power would probably be from fossil fuel sources, but I guess the local environment would not have cruise ship gennys pumping very dirty exhaust into the atmosphere locally.