TEC CONTAINER has achieved a major decarbonization milestone this week with the official inauguration of the country’s first On-shore Power Supply (OPS) system dedicated to cruise ships at the Port of Cádiz. This project introduces critical infrastructure to significantly reduce maritime emissions in Southern Europe.
Quantifiable Environmental Impact
By enabling docked cruise ships to power down their auxiliary diesel engines and connect to a 100% renewable terrestrial grid, the installation delivers immediate, measurable environmental benefits. The 16 MVA modular station is projected to supply 8.62 GWh of clean energy in its first year.
This transition will eliminate approximately 5,000 tons of CO2 annually—equivalent to removing 2,800 cars from the road. On a per-vessel basis, “cold ironing” reduces total CO2 emissions by 64%, while drastically improving local air quality for the surrounding coastal community by cutting Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) by 96% and harmful particulate matter by 94%.
Advanced Cable Management Technology by TEC Shore Power
Facilitating the safe transfer of high-voltage power between the dock and the vessel relies on specialized technology provided by Madrid-based TEC Shore Power subsidiary of TEC Container. The company supplied a state-of-the-art mobile Cable Management System (CMS) custom-engineered to overcome the operational challenges of the port.
Key technical features of the connection include:
- Dynamic Flexibility: Mounted on a highly mobile chassis, the unit features a fully motorized cable store and an advanced articulated arm with three degrees of freedom.
- Tidal Compensation: The smart control interface maintains dynamic length control to manage the bay’s tidal variances and ship movements, ensuring heavy electrical cables never overstretch or exceed their maximum bending radius.
- Integrated Safety: The system incorporates submersion protection and rigorous voltage monitoring that ties seamlessly into the port’s emergency alarm network, guaranteeing absolute safety during power transfer.
The successful implementation of this OPS infrastructure in Cádiz establishes a vital blueprint for the ongoing electrification and modernization of commercial ports worldwide.
