Ferries travelling to and from Aberdeen and the Northern Isles will be able to plug into clean shore power facilities following a seven-figure investment in the Port of Aberdeen.
The project, funded by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), will mitigate more than 1,300 tonnes of CO2 equivalent a year (equivalent of almost 24 tankers of marine gas oil) and pushes the port closer to its ambition of being the first net zero port in the country.
The facilities in the North-east are for Serco NorthLink's passenger ferries, which sail to Orkney and Shetland.
Both MV Hrossey and MV Hjaltland ferries have been converted to accept shore power and will plug-in to the clean source in Aberdeen by the fourth quarter next year.
Bob Sanguinetti, CEO, Port of Aberdeen, said: “We are delighted to be part of this forward-thinking initiative which is an important strand of our industry-leading Net Zero strategy. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and providing a cleaner, more sustainable port for our stakeholders.
“The expanded port can play a pivotal role in the emergence of green economic growth in the wider maritime industry and support new, high-quality jobs in energy, trade, and tourism. Strong partnerships and investment across the public and private sectors are essential to deliver this transformational change."
The initiative will also reduce noise in the area, as well as improving air quality.
The port is investing £55m over the next decade in order to reach their net zero goal of 2024.
Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop said: “The Scottish Government is committed to the decarbonisation of the transport sector to help deliver a just transition, and it’s great to see Port of Aberdeen aiming to be the first UK port to achieve net zero by 2040.
Ms Hyslop continued: “Ports and harbours are crucial gateways to Scotland and have a key role to play in reducing transport emissions as well as supporting national, regional and local economies. The new South Harbour significantly increases the potential economic impact of Port of Aberdeen, and I’m keen to work with the port to ensure this impact is maximised.”
Kevin Hobbs, Chief Executive Officer, CMAL said: “This investment in cutting-edge shore power infrastructure at Port of Aberdeen is a pivotal step towards a greener maritime future. We're not just reducing emissions but shaping a sustainable future for maritime transport – one that resonates with CMAL’s commitment to environmental sustainability and innovation."
Stuart Garrett, Managing Director, Serco NorthLink Ferries said: “MV Hjaltland and MV Hrossey are fully wired and ready to receive shore power when commissioning has been completed. We look forward to this being a successful achievement on the Net Zero journey for Port of Aberdeen and welcome the support from CMAL in driving the project forward.”