The decarbonisation of maritime transport is moving from long-term ambition to day-to-day operational reality. For terminal operators, this transition will not only be measured in emissions targets or regulatory documents. It will be visible at the quay, in berth planning, in cable handling procedures, in vessel calls and in the way ships are supplied with energy while they are moored.
One of the most important changes is the growing role of On-shore Power Supply, also known as OPS, shore power or cold ironing. OPS allows vessels to switch off their auxiliary engines while at berth and connect to the port’s electrical infrastructure instead. For ports located close to urban areas, passenger terminals or dense logistics zones, this can help reduce local emissions, noise and vibration during port stays.
The regulatory pressure is also increasing. FuelEU Maritime, formally Regulation (EU) 2023/1805, applies from 2025 and introduces greenhouse gas intensity limits for the energy used on board ships. It applies to ships above 5,000 gross tonnage calling at EU ports, regardless of flag, and its reduction pathway becomes progressively stricter towards 2050.
For terminal operators, however, the most immediate milestone is 2030. From 1 January 2030, passenger ships and container ships at berth will have to use OPS or alternative zero-emission technologies in ports covered by Article 9 of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, known as AFIR. From 1 January 2035, this obligation will extend to all EU ports that have developed OPS capacity.
This means OPS can no longer be treated as an optional sustainability feature. It is becoming part of the basic infrastructure that modern ports and terminals will need to operate competitively.
Why FuelEU Maritime changes the conversation around OPS
Until recently, OPS projects were often presented mainly as environmental investments. They helped reduce emissions at berth, improved air quality around port communities and supported the sustainability strategies of ports, cities and shipping companies.
FuelEU Maritime changes the context. It connects shore power with compliance, operational continuity and future access to port services. The regulation does not simply encourage cleaner operations; it creates a framework in which certain ships will be expected to avoid emissions at berth by using OPS or equivalent zero-emission technologies when the relevant conditions apply.
That has a direct impact on terminals. If a vessel is expected to connect to shore power, the terminal must be ready to support that operation safely and efficiently. The electrical infrastructure must be available, but so must the physical connection system, the operating procedures, the trained personnel and the coordination between port authority, terminal, grid operator and ship crew.
In practice, OPS is not just an electrical project. It is an interface between the ship and the terminal. If that interface is poorly planned, the consequences can include delays, unsafe cable handling, berth restrictions, compatibility issues and unnecessary operational complexity.
What terminal operators should start preparing now
The first preparation step is not necessarily procurement. It is understanding which parts of the terminal are likely to be affected. A terminal operator should examine vessel call patterns, berth occupancy, ship types, expected hoteling time and the electrical demand of the vessels most likely to require OPS. A container terminal with frequent calls from large vessels will face a different challenge from a cruise or ferry terminal, where passenger services and hotel loads can create high and continuous power demand at berth.
This assessment should also consider how many vessels may need shore power at the same time. OPS planning can become much more complex when several berths require simultaneous supply, especially if the local grid needs reinforcement or if the port must coordinate phased infrastructure deployment with different terminal operators.
The next question is physical integration. Shore power cannot be planned only from the substation outward. The last metres between quay and ship are operationally critical. This is where cable routing, connection height, tidal variation, equipment manoeuvrability, exclusion zones and human safety all come together. A technically correct electrical design can still become difficult to operate if the connection system does not fit the terminal’s actual working conditions.
Training should also start before the system is commissioned. High-voltage equipment in a marine environment requires clear responsibilities and disciplined procedures. Terminal staff, maintenance teams, safety managers and vessel crews need to understand how the connection is prepared, who authorises each step, how communication is managed and what happens in abnormal situations.
By 2030, OPS should not feel like a special operation. It should be part of the terminal’s standard berth workflow.
OPS as a competitive advantage
FuelEU Maritime is often discussed as a compliance obligation, but terminal operators should also view OPS as part of their future service offering. Shipping lines, cruise operators, logistics companies and cargo owners are under increasing pressure to reduce emissions across the transport chain. Ports that can support cleaner vessel calls will be better positioned in that environment.
This is especially relevant for terminals close to cities, where air quality and noise are highly visible public concerns. Cruise and passenger terminals are obvious examples, but container terminals also face growing scrutiny as supply chains become more transparent and environmental performance becomes part of commercial decision-making.
TEC Container’s recent OPS work reflects this shift. In Cádiz, TEC Container supplied an advanced mobile Cable Management System for Spain’s first OPS system dedicated to cruise ships, designed to manage the final stage of the shore-to-ship connection in a demanding marine environment.
Projects like this show why the physical connection system matters. The transition to shore power is not only about producing electricity on land. It is about delivering that electricity safely and reliably to a vessel that is moving, moored and operating in a live port environment.
