International Car Operators N.V. (ICO), part of the NYK Group, has launched the first shore power facility for RoRo vessels at the Port of Zeebrugge, Belgium.
Following a successful test phase in early June, a NYK-operated PCTC was the first vessel to connect to the system, switching off onboard generators and drawing electricity from shore during its port stay.
Shore power allows vessels at berth to run on land-based electricity, reducing CO2 emissions, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter while improving local air quality around port areas.
The Zeebrugge installation is currently capable of serving one vessel at a time, with potential for future expansion.
The project received support from the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VLAIO), reflecting ongoing public–private collaboration in port decarbonisation initiatives.
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All electricity supplied is sourced from ICO’s on-site renewable energy assets, including an 11-turbine wind farm. The system also provides shore-side connections and cabling, enabling vessels without existing onboard shore power capability to plug in.
Alain Guillemyn, Managing Director of ICO, said: “This investment confirms ICO’s ambition to play a pioneering role in a sustainable and competitive port environment, both in Belgium and internationally.”
ICO said the development forms part of a broader sustainability strategy, including more than 600 electric vehicle charging points, 12,600 square metres (m²) of solar installations, and an automated parking facility with capacity for 10,000 vehicles.
For more information:
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha – https://www.nyk.com/english/
