On-shore Power Supply (OPS) is considered as an attractive solution to reduce local pollution generated by vessels at berth in the EU ports. This potential is highlighted in the EU legislation with Article 4(5) of Directive 2014/94/EU on Alternative Fuel Infrastructure, according to which shore-side electricity supply shall be installed as a priority in ports of the TEN-T Core Network, and in other ports, by 31 December 2025*.

In line with this policy framework, the Global Project “European flagship action for cold ironing in ports” (EALING) expresses the need to accelerate the effective deployment of OPS solutions in the EU maritime ports and aims to achieve the following objectives:

– Assessing operational and environmental performances of the ports participating in EALING consortium, in charging different ships (ro-ro, ro-pax, containerships, passengers ships);

– Contributing to the further development of an EU harmonised and interoperable framework for deployment of OPS infrastructure and equipment in the ports with close cooperation between all the stakeholders of the maritime sector, in line with the EU technical, legal and regulatory framework;

– Leading all the necessary technical, environmental, socio-economic and financial studies in order to accelerate the preparation and launch of the works phase on OPS infrastructure;

– Implementing OPS infrastructure and equipment in at least 16 EU ports belonging to different sea basins: Mediterranean, Black Sea, Atlantic and North Sea.

The current EALING Action is a study aiming at the implementation of the first phase of the Global Project with the following specific objectives:

– Ensuring that a common harmonised and interoperable framework is brought forward to facilitate the implementation phase of OPS infrastructure, in accordance with the EU technical, legal and regulatory framework;

– Ensuring the port to vessel compatibility in the TEN-T Maritime Network, for the vessels calling at the ports of the consortium;

– Leading all the necessary technical, financial, legal and environmental studies to prepare and accelerate the effective launch of cold ironing and electric bunkering equipment in the ports.

This Action will be implemented in close cooperation with the relevant stakeholders of the EU maritime sector, including the EU Coordinator for Motorways of the Sea, the relevant services of DG MOVE, as well as with the key EU port and maritime associations such as ECSA, ESPO, MEDports, etc.

*unless there is no demand and the costs are disproportionate to the benefits, including environmental benefits.