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Operational Guide · Registers & Logbooks

Shore Power and Cold Ironing (Onshore Power Supply)

From 1 January 2030, container ships and passenger ships above 5,000 GT will have to connect to shore power at major EU ports: only 58% of European ports currently have this capability.

shore powercold ironingOPSAFIRFuelEU Maritime

Operational Explanation

Connecting to the shore electrical grid during a port stay (Onshore Power Supply, OPS, also known as cold ironing) allows the ship to switch off its auxiliary engines, eliminating local emissions while moored. The EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) requires core and comprehensive TEN-T network ports to install OPS infrastructure by 31 December 2029, while FuelEU Maritime requires ships to use OPS or equivalent zero-emission technologies from 1 January 2030.

The obligation applies to container ships and passenger ships ≥5,000 GT at TEN-T ports with sufficient traffic volumes (100 calls/year for container ships, 40 for RoPax, 25 for Ro-Ro and high-speed passenger craft, averaged over the last 3 years), which must guarantee OPS coverage for at least 90% of these ships' calls. From 2035 the obligation will extend to all EU ports equipped with OPS facilities. Only 58% of EU ports currently have OPS capability (ESPO 2024 data), often limited to a few berths even where available.

Regulatory Reference

EU AFIR Regulation (Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation): requirement to install OPS at TEN-T core/comprehensive ports by 31 December 2029; FuelEU Maritime (Reg. EU 2023/1805): requirement to use OPS or equivalent zero-emission technologies for ships ≥5,000 GT from 1 January 2030 at AFIR ports, extended to all EU ports with OPS facilities from 1 January 2035.

Scope of Application

Container ships and passenger ships (including RoPax and high-speed craft) of 5,000 gross tonnage and upwards calling at core/comprehensive TEN-T network ports with sufficient traffic volumes per AFIR thresholds.

Procedure / How to Complete It

  1. Verify the technical compatibility of the ship's OPS connection system with the standards required by usual ports of call.
  2. Plan port calls at TEN-T ports taking into account the actual availability of OPS infrastructure, not just the formal obligation, given the still-limited coverage (58% of EU ports in 2024).
  3. Verify any equivalent zero-emission technologies accepted as an alternative to OPS under FuelEU Maritime, if OPS installation is not technically feasible.
  4. Document actual OPS use during port calls for the reporting required by FuelEU Maritime.
  5. Monitor the evolution of OPS coverage at usual ports of call ahead of the 2030 deadline and the subsequent 2035 extension.

Practical Example

Example: an 8,000 GT container ship regularly calling at a TEN-T core port with an OPS obligation from 2030 verifies in advance the compatibility of its connection system with the port facility's standard, planning any technical adaptations before the regulatory deadline.

Real Cases

OPS coverage at European ports remains uneven: large multi-berth installations are generally concentrated at Tier 1 ports, leaving regional and inland facilities less served; this creates a real risk that, even with the formal obligation from 2030, some ships will not find OPS infrastructure available at every port call, requiring recourse to the equivalent zero-emission technologies provided as an alternative by FuelEU Maritime.

Common Mistakes Mistake Library

MistakeConsequenceHow to avoid it
Port call planning based only on the formal regulatory obligation, without verifying actual OPS infrastructure availability at the specific portInability to connect to OPS despite the obligation, requiring unplanned alternative solutionsAlways verify actual OPS infrastructure availability at the specific port of call, not just the general regulatory obligation
Technical compatibility of the ship's OPS connection system not verified in advance against the port of call's standardsInability to connect even where OPS infrastructure is available ashoreVerify the technical compatibility of the connection system with the specific standards of usual ports of call before the regulatory deadline
Actual OPS use during port calls not systematically documentedDifficulty with the reporting required by FuelEU MaritimeSystematically document OPS use during every port call for FuelEU Maritime reporting

PSC Observations

OPS use is not typically subject to direct PSC verification, but compliance with FuelEU Maritime (of which the OPS obligation is part) is verified by competent EU Authorities through the annual reporting required of the owner.

Operational Tips

Checklist

FAQ

From when will OPS use be mandatory for ships in the EU?
From 1 January 2030 for container ships and passenger ships ≥5,000 GT at TEN-T ports covered by AFIR with sufficient traffic volumes; from 1 January 2035 the obligation extends to all EU ports equipped with OPS facilities.
Will all EU ports have OPS by 2030?
No: only 58% of EU ports had OPS capability in 2024 (ESPO data), often limited to a few berths; the AFIR installation obligation only covers core/comprehensive TEN-T network ports with sufficient traffic volumes, by 31 December 2029.
What happens if a ship cannot connect to OPS at a port with an obligation?
FuelEU Maritime provides for the possibility of using equivalent zero-emission technologies as an alternative to OPS, when connection is not technically feasible.
🎬 Additional photos, videos and interactive diagrams for this topic will be available in a future version of the platform.

Related Topics

EU ETS and FuelEU MaritimeBunkering Operations and Fuel Quality Control