Container terminal

Shore power supply for container terminals

Huge cargo ships dock at a container terminal to load and unload standardised containers with the help of enormous gantry cranes. Lorries and automated vehicles transport the containers to designated storage areas where they are stacked and sorted for onward distribution. Sophisticated logistics systems track every movement to ensure efficiency and accuracy in the global movement of goods. Terminal operations run around the clock, coordinating ships, lorries and trains to maintain the global flow of goods along supply chains.

Therefore, careful planning is essential when integrating a shore power system to ensure maximum flexibility, reliability and safety. At the same time, it must be ensured that the system is structurally feasible, does not interrupt work processes and integrates seamlessly into the core business of container logistics.

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Mobile power socket supplies container ships at the Port of Hamburg

iMSPO at Container Terminal Hamburg (CTH)

At the Container Terminal Hamburg (CTH), the port relies on a pioneering solution from igus: the Mobile Shore Power Outlet (iMSPO). Three movable systems with integrated rol e-chains supply container ships with power along 300, 150 and 110 metres of quay length with pinpoint accuracy - regardless of their berthing position.

The iMSPO systems move on a specially developed steel structure above the flood wall. This ensures maximum safety, saves space and enables a quick connection in under 15 minutes - with just two people. The robust energy chain reliably guides the heavy cables and protects them from wear.

The result: Fewer emissions, lower operating costs and more flexibility for port operations - honoured with the title "Port Innovation of the Year".

Find out more about the mobile shore power supply

Challenges of implementation at container terminals

High energy requirements

Container ships are among the largest and most energy-intensive types of ships in the world. During their time in the port, they require electricity for numerous systems on board - including refrigeration units, lighting, communication, navigation, pumps and other technical equipment. The power requirement can amount to several megawatts, which places an enormous load on the shore-side infrastructure. Container terminals must therefore be equipped with powerful grid connections that can reliably cover this demand. Additional substations or grid reinforcements are often necessary to ensure the supply.

Frequency conversion

Many ships operate with an on-board frequency of 60Hz, while the European power grid supplies50Hz. To ensure a strong and safe power supply, the frequency must be converted accordingly on land. This requires so-called frequency converters, which are not only expensive to purchase, but also require regular maintenance. These converters are central components of the shore power system and represent one of the greatest technical challenges - especially when it comes to integrating them into existing terminal structures.

Limited space for installation

Providing shore power connections is often a challenge, especially when it comes to finding the space required for all the necessary components. Each terminal presents its own specific difficulties - especially along the waterfront, where a system is to be installed that can accommodate the cables coming from the ship. When planning, the fixing positions of fenders and fender chains, bollards, bull rails, safety ladders and other elements such as underground supply boxes must be taken into account. Other aspects concern the arrangement of the technical equipment and the locations of the transformer stations, as the construction of these facilities and the laying of cables - from the supply cables to the site and to the transformer station and from the transformer station to the waterfront - require appropriate land areas.

Flexibility for many berthing configurations

In today's global shipping world, the ability to adapt flexibly to changing conditions
on a daily - sometimes even hourly - basis is critical to maintaining efficiency and profitability.
The ability to accommodate new vessels, maximise loading efficiency and respond to equipment breakdowns that affect berth scheduling are all aspects that should be considered during planning.
The modern container terminal is a highly dynamic, adaptable and efficient operation - and this is something that should not be overlooked when planning a shore power system. Choosing a solution without carefully considering all these points can result in losing some of the investment in operational efficiency and therefore profitability.

Shore power requirements for container terminals in accordance with IEC 80005-1 standards

The IEEE/IEC/ISO 80005-1 standards for high voltage shore connections contain comprehensive information on the design, installation and testing of HVSC (High Voltage Shore Connection) systems. They provide general guidelines for HVSC systems as well as specific appendices for certain ship types. Appendix D is particularly relevant for container ships. This section contains specifications that ensure the global interoperability and safety of the systems through defined test parameters.

Some of the most important design features for container terminals and ships are:

The cable management system must be located on board the ship.
The nominal voltage of the system must be 6.6kV.
For HVSC systems with a maximum power consumption of 7.5MVA, two parallel cables with three pilot conductors each must be used.
The connector configuration includes 3x main phase, 1x PE, 3x pilot pins.

Best practices for successful planning, designing and implementation

Planning should be geared towards achieving 100% connectivity under today's conditions while ensuring the flexibility to adapt to future requirements at any time.

System planning must take into account not only current needs, but also potential future requirements and emergency situations that may arise due to the failure of other devices at the terminal. The best system is one that fulfils current requirements, takes future developments into account and can react to unplanned events - without additional planning effort.

The international standard IEC 80005-1 should be carefully considered to ensure interoperability with other systems and safety when dealing with high voltage technology.

Interoperability: As the terminal receives ships from all over the world, it is crucial to ensure that these ships can be easily connected when they arrive.
Safety: With high voltage shore power systems, it is essential to design a system that takes into account occupational safety from both an electrical and ergonomic perspective.

Core business operations should be carefully analysed to ensure that the shore power system is seamlessly integrated into the existing operational structure - with fast, easy and safe operation.

System planning must ensure that the shore power system works harmoniously with existing operations. The connection process should not affect the efficiency of operations. A system that requires a lot of labour or is complicated to operate and maintain can have a negative impact on profitability.