The Port of Hamburg wants to be faster than the European Union. According to the Senator for Economic Affairs, Dr Melanie Leonhard (SPD), cruise ships will have to use the green shore power available in the port from 2027. In the EU, the regulation will not apply until 2030.
The obligation to use shore power applies to all ships that are technically capable of doing so. The cruise terminal in Altona has had a shore power system since 2017. It went into operation in Steinwerder last year and the new cruise terminal in Hafencity will follow this year. Ships are supplied with energy via cable from shore so that they can switch off their on-board generators to avoid ship emissions while they are in port.
The Hamburg Senator for Economic Affairs is not worried that cruise ships will steer clear of Hamburg if shore-side electricity becomes mandatory here earlier than throughout the EU. Almost two thirds of all ships that are capable of using shore-side electricity already use the power supply in Hamburg - and that is without any obligation. However, shore power has so far been considerably more expensive than operating the on-board generators.
It is important for the acceptance of the cruise business in the city. The business should grow, which is precisely why ships should utilise this technology, said the Senator for Economic Affairs in an interview with NDR. From the "Hanseatic Spirit" to the "Mein Schiff 7": since the beginning of the year, cruise ships have drawn power from shore around 80 times in the Port of Hamburg.
Hamburg cruise terminals. Graphic: Google - Map data 2025
After many years, the knot has now burst in the cruise segment, said the spokesperson for the economic authority. And if cruisers do not comply with the new rules, there is a threat of sanctions. The senator assumes that so-called compensation payments will then have to be made.
Similar systems are also to be installed for container ships at the Burchardkai and Altenwerder terminals in future. The head of the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) told NDR that the Port of Hamburg has been a pioneer in Europe for years when it comes to shore-side power. Now, with the completion of the two connection points in Hafencity next year, a functioning shore-side power system could be made available from 2027.
In 2024, however, things sounded different. It was regretted that the existing infrastructure was not being used, as nobody could be forced to do so. The reasons are not entirely clear. For some ships, the connections were too weak, said some skippers off camera. However, the responsible economic authority has always rejected this. According to their findings, the shore power supply meets the current needs of the ships, said the spokesperson for the economic authority.
Another assumption is much more obvious. Firstly, some ships do not have a suitable shore power connection, and secondly, it is generally cheaper to run the ship's own diesel generators than to use the more expensive green electricity. This "shortcoming" is now being remedied with the mandatory connection.
kdk, NDR
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