THE CMA CGM Group and Shanghai International Port signed a long-term strategic collaboration to develop the mass scale use of onshore power supply for containerships at the Port of Shanghai.

From today, all fully-fitted CMA CGM containerships calling at the port of Shanghai will systematically use the onshore power connection.

This allows ships to shut down auxiliary engines and use an onshore power supply while at berth – so called “cold ironing”.

This will reduce emissions such as sulphur oxide, particulate matter and nitrogen oxide, significantly improving air quality. Using shore power will also reduce noise pollution.

In late November, CMA CGM and SIPG completed the technical trial of the “cold ironing” facilities at Yangshan Terminal in the port of Shanghai. This involved CMA CGM’s 13,982-TEU containership APL Fullerton and several other vessels.

The company said its newbuilds will be equipped with the technology required to use shore power. CMA CGM is conducting an extensive retrofitting program so other containerships can also use an onshore power supply.

By the end of this year, the company said 13 of its vessels calling at the port of Shanghai will connect to the onshore power supply, and by mid-2023, this number will increase to reach 50.

CMA CGM China CEO Ludovic Renou said, “We are breaking new ground by partnering with SIPG, our strategic partner, to collaborate on the mass scale cold ironing, another landmark in our partnership after the historic China’s first LNG SIMOPS bunkering jointly completed by us in March this year. Looking ahead, we will continue to join hands and drive forward more meaningful transformations to pioneer the energy transition together.”

SIPG general manager of engineering and equipment Wenbin Luo said SIPG had always been committed to the development of green ports and has always supported the energy transformation and decarbonisation of shipping.

“This year, SIPG and CMA CGM jointly established the LNG bunkering Center at Shanghai Port. Today, SIPG and CMA CGM have confirmed the long-term strategic cooperation of cold ironing, and SIPG will continue to provide onshore power supply services for CMA CGM vessels at Shanghai Port. We firmly believe that enhanced cooperation between ports and shipping companies will accelerate the journey of decarbonisation,” Wenbin Luo said.