Marine Port
Electric Power
Distribution for
Cold-Ironing
> Shore-Port-to-Ship Power
Converters
Photo courtesy of ESL Power Systems, Inc
There are
several
challenges that
ports have to
look at before
they can provide
cold-ironing
capabilities
from
the shore to the
ship. One of the
greatest
challenges is
the port's
electrical power
distribution.
Every vessel’s
electrical power
and voltage
requirements vary
between vessel
types and the
country that manufactured
them.
These various
voltage
requirements
present a
problem when
designing a
shore-power
installation at
a port.
The most
economical way
is to use a
shore-port-to-ship
power converter.
For example, a
converter is
used at a
Chinese shipping
terminal at the
Port of Los
Angeles to reduce
the 6.6 kV of
power supplied
to the wharf to
the 440 V
required for the
ships. The
biggest
challenge is
deciding where
to place the
converters, on
the wharf or on
the ship.
A converter can
only be added to
a wharf or ship
if enough space
is available.
Future ship
designs should
include extra
space for the
utilization of
power converters. It
would cost less
to have just one
converter or
transformer on
the wharf for
all ships to
use. By having
a converter on the wharf,
it would
eliminate the
need for each
ship to have one.
However, a space
will still be
needed on each
ship for the
converter when
they dock. Also,
if left on the
wharf,
extra space is
needed for containers or
other cargo that are
stored on the
wharf while
being loaded
or unloaded from
the ship.
At this point in
time, most
shipping
companies are
deciding to use
newly converted
ships or to
retrofit
existing ships
when considering
future
shore-power
installations.
The NYK Atlas
Container Ship,
the new S-10
Class Evergreen
Container Ships,
the new
Alaska-Class
Tanker, and the
Diamond and
Sapphire
Princess
passenger ships
were all built
with the
equipment to
connect to shore-port-to-ship
power. The four
original
Princess Cruise
Line Ships that
cold-iron in
Juneau and Alaska
were retrofitted
with shore-power
capabilities
while en route
to Alaska. Some
ships are able
to retrofit
their
ships while in
service;
however, some ships may
have to be
dry-docked to
complete this
process.
Cables used for
cold-ironing
must be stored
when ships are
not connected to
shore power. As
with the
converter,
enough space on
a dock for this
equipment is an
issue. Also, the
number of cables
used to deliver
power to ships
varies, as does
the actual
connection of
the cables to a
ship’s
electrical
panel. In order
for cold-ironing
to be feasible,
standardizing
the number of
power cables and
the actual
electrical
connection to
ships must be
explored by the
ports and
shipping
companies.
Because the Princess
Cruise Line is
already
cold-ironing at
two ports on the
West Coast,
perhaps its
connection
system will
become the
standard for
that industry.
Also, cold-ironing
will increase
the power
demand. Some
ports' existing
power may not be
sufficient to
provide the
additional power
load. An example
of this is the
Port of Long
Beach, which needs
more power
bought in. The
ability of
electrical
utility
companies to
provide the
additional power
load will vary
from site to
site. Ports will
have to work
with the
utilities to
design and
install power
distribution to
meet the demands
from
cold-ironing.
Cold-ironing is
proving to be
technically
feasible. Also,
cold-ironing is
a way that most
ports can
reduce public
health impacts
to the
surrounding
communities and
contribute to a
more emission-free environment.
As this method
becomes global,
there will be
an
increase in the
use of
shore-port-to-ship
converters.
Because each
port will have
different
frequencies and
voltages, a
converter will become
an economical
solution. A TEMCo
Shore-Port-to-Ship
Power Converter
is a unique
frequency
converter that
performs
multiple
functions. It
provides the
possibility to
connect to any
shore power
connection
anywhere in the
world ranging
from 25 kVA to
over 400 kVA.
Supplying power
is only half of
what this
converter does,
it also
stabilizes and
offers power
factor
correction.
About
TEMCo
TEMCo has many years of
experience.
They
manufacture
and develop
industrial power
solutions and
are dedicated
to using the
highest quality
materials.
TEMCo has a staff of
highly trained
engineers that
can design your
equipment to
meet any of your
application
requirements,
and they
provide the
latest and best
technology the
industry has to
offer.
TEMCo has
had
extensive
experience
manufacturing
electrical power
products since
1968.
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