By
Alex Smith |
The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) board of directors has confirmed that it will proceed it will proceed with the next stage of the shore power project at Victoria Cruise Terminal in Victoria, Canada.
The project will see the installation of shore power facilities at two berths on Pier B of the terminal, which welcome 75 per cent of all cruise ship calls during a season. A report by consulting firm Moffat & Nichol has indicated that the installation could result in a 46 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and criteria air contaminants produced by the terminal.
The cost of the solution will be between CA$23.3 million and CA$24.8 million, exceeding GVHA’s gross revenue in 2019. The authority will therefore focus on funding opportunities with partners and stakeholders, along with developing a power upgrade design and installation plan with electric utility company BC Hydro.
“Our goal is to be one of the greenest ports in North America, so we are committed to this project as part of our overall strategy,” said Ian Robertson, CEO of GVHA. “The path to get to this decision has been anything but a straight line due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but I am pleased that the business case findings show that emissions can be reduced through the implementation of shore power. The challenge now is finding the right sectors of financial support for shore power. As a community-based, not-for-profit organisation, we cannot afford to build this project without support from external partners.”
Frequency conversion technology will be installed along with the shore power connection to optimise for different types of cruise and non-cruise vessels. GVHA will also develop an organisation-wide electrification strategy, aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and objectives set out by the City of Victoria, which incorporates charging, renewable energy, and energy savings.
“The Board of Directors fully supports the recommendations provided by Moffat & Nichol and GVHA staff, which helps plot a path forward for the future implementation of shore power,” said Dave Cowen, chair of the board of directors for GVHA. “Despite the devastating impact of Covid-19 on the economic strength of GVHA, we know the tourism industry and cruise sector will recover over time. It is our intention that, with the support of the board of directors for this path forward, GVHA can pursue shore power in a timeline that dovetails with the global restart and rebuilding of tourism.”