NSW takes significant step towards reducing cruise ship pollution

In an Australian-first, New South Wales is taking a huge step towards reducing cruise ship pollution by awarding a $20 million contract to begin the landmark Shore Power project at White Bay Cruise Terminal.

The contract for the charger at White Bay berth 5 has been awarded to global leader in shore power technology, Powercon, with initial work to prepare the site set to begin by the end of 2024.

Shore Power is wharf-side infrastructure that provides cruise ships with electricity by connecting to a landside charger, which results in fewer emissions as the engine does not have to stay running while docked.

This marks a huge step towards reducing cruise ship pollution, ensuring the cruise industry can be more sustainable and continue to thrive in NSW.

This will be the first major shore power infrastructure in southern hemisphere and the carbon emissions reduction this project at White Bay will achieve is equivalent to taking 1,100 cars off Sydney’s roads or planting 20,000 trees each year.

It comes as the summer cruise season officially kicks off in NSW, with the arrival of Diamond Princess into Sydney harbour on Thursday morning and the Pacific Adventure at White Bay on Friday morning.

The latest data shows the cruise industry contributed $2.75 billion to the NSW economy in 2022-23 and created approximately 9,000 jobs.

This project means cleaner air and less noise for the residents of Balmain and Rozelle, with the precinct and population expected to grow in the coming decade as the Bays Metro West opens and much-needed housing is delivered.

Shore Power is estimated to reduce emissions associated with the White Bay precinct by over 4,000 tonnes every year.

The move puts Sydney on par with other global cities adopting this technology, such as in Europe, where shoreside electricity will be mandatory at all main ports from 2030.

With critical equipment in high demand, the White Bay Cruise Terminal Shore Power project is targeted for completion by late 2026.

Once operational in 2026, it will be mandatory for any ship that docks at White Bay Cruise Terminal that is shore power enabled to use available shore power.  The vast majority of ships that use White Bay are already shore power enabled.

Port Authority will determine the best mechanism to implement the shore power mandate, likely to be through contract obligations with its cruise industry partners.

The NSW Government is leading the rollout of Shore Power at other ports across Australia by supporting the development of Australian Standards that will inform future projects.