Onshore Power Supply (OPS) - The EU and California Regulatory Requirements

Rules and Regulations
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Hello QueSeanians,

Cold Ironing, also known as Alternative Maritime Power (AMP), or more commonly shore power supply (OPS), consists of connecting vessels to shoreside power sources, thereby allowing electricity to flow from the port into ships. OPS is being discussed repeatedly as a path to lower carbon emissions from ships and better air quality around port areas.

In April 2024, AAPA and ABS Released Port Decarbonization Report providing more information on the trends and lessons learned (appa-port-decarb-survey-publication.pdf).

Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 - Fuel EU Maritime

  • Starting from 1 January 2030, containerships and passenger ships under the scope of Art. 2 FuelEU Maritime Regulation, at berth, moored at the quayside, in a port covered by the Article 9 of the AFIR Regulation (Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) port) must connect to on-shore power supply and use it for all their electrical power demand at berth.
  • From 1 January 2035 onwards, the obligation is extended to non-TEN-T ports that develops OPS capacity.
  • In addition, from 1 January 2030 to 31 December 2034, Member States may apply the obligation for containerships and passenger ships under the scope of Art. 2 FuelEU Maritime Regulation, at berth, moored at the quayside, in a port (or parts of that port) not covered by TEN-T.
  • According to Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 Article 9, provides information on the TEN-T and Annex II contains a list of the core network, the extended core network and the comprehensive network. The core network includes the most important connections between major cities and nodes and must be completed by 2030. The extended core network needs to be completed ten years later, in 2040. The comprehensive network connects all regions of the EU to the core network and needs to be completed by 2050 Regulation (EU) 2024-1679 - Annex II.pdf (327.3 KB).

Note: Based on the above, currently, tanker vessels are currently not required to use OPS at EU ports. Still, any ship can benefit from using onshore power supply (OPS) voluntarily, as in GHG intensity calculation under the FuelEU Maritime, as the denominator (energy) increases while the numerator remains the same (no emissions added).

California At-Berth Requirements (CARB)
Tanker vessels that visit the Ports of Los Angeles or Long Beach, as of 01 January 2023, must report each vessel visit within 30 days of departure and meet opacity requirements. Once a vessel type has reached its compliance start date then the vessel must:

A. Coordinate with regulated terminals at least 7 days prior to arrival and complete all items in the compliance checklist as set forth in section 93130.7(e) of Title 17, California Code of Regulations.

B. Reduce emissions while at a regulated terminal in accordance with the regulation’s performance standards by:

  • Connecting to shore power.
  • Employing a CARB approved Emission Control Strategy (CAECS) or an approved innovative concept.

These are to be employed within two hours of the vessel arriving at the berth and continue until no sooner than one hour before the pilot boards the vessel for departure from the berth.

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