Core philosophy of design

"Bring the shore power to the ship, not the high-voltage equipment to the quay!" Route several 11kV high-voltage cables to the connection point in a protected area Do not lay cables on the ground or in areas with passenger traffic. Fully comply with the safety principles of IEC 80005-1.

Important advantages for cruise terminals

The iMSPO supports 11kV configurations with multiple cables for cruise ships Obstacles (such as fixed connection points for shore power) are removed. High-voltage cables laid exposed on the ground in publicly accessible areas are avoided The manual effort and manpower required for connection processes is reduced The repeatability of connection operations at different freeboard and inlet positions on ships is improved Maintains a good visual impression of the terminal in publicly viewable terminals

The most important findings

IEC 80005-1 guarantees safety. The IMSPO ensures that shore power supply works in the "real" operation of a cruise terminal. Plan your shore power supply around passengers, operations and future ship sizes - not fixed slots. Start early with the coordination and planning of power architecture, berth geometry and connection strategy.

Cruise terminal

Shore power supply for cruise terminals

Cruise terminals serve passenger ships with some of the highest power requirements in the maritime sector. In addition to power supply, these terminals must also consider passenger safety, appearance, operational safety and tight schedules for port calls - often in densely built-up, urban or tourist environments.

For cruise terminals, the success of shore power depends less on electrical compliance and more on whether the connection between ship and shore can be made safely, repeatedly and without disrupting terminal operations or the passenger experience.

Information about shore power supply for cruise terminals

Shore power requirements for cruise terminals in accordance with the IEC 80005-1 (Annex C) 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 C is particularly relevant for cruise 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 cruise terminals and cruise ships are:

The HVSC system shall be rated for a minimum of 16MVA (but 20MVA is recommended where practicable) at a nominal voltage of 11kV AC and/or 6.6kV AC. For HVSC systems with a maximum power requirement of 7.5MVA, two parallel cables with three pilot conductors each shall be used.
Cruise ships must use four three-phase power connections, each rated at 500A, and a single-pole neutral connection rated at 250A.
A neutral conductor continuity test with tripping function must be available.
The short-circuit resistance is 25kA for 1s and the maximum short-circuit current is 63kA.

The "connection dilemma" at the cruise terminal

Challenge No. 1:

A lively, publicly accessible quay

Cruise terminals are not industrial sites. They include:

Passenger boarding bridges,
baggage and supply logistics,
terminal vehicles and
emergency access routes.

Fixed power sockets, pedestal interfaces and cable handling machines are permanent obstructions that

affect the alignment of the boarding bridges,
restrict the free operating space,
complicate traffic management at and in the terminal.

Once installed, the fixed infrastructure determines the berths of the ships, which restricts flexibility

Challenge No. 2:

Cables laid on the ground as safety risks

Roller-supported and permanently installed shore power systems often lead to:

High-voltage cables lying on the quay,
Increased risk of abrasion, crushing and vehicle contact,
Risk of slipping or tripping in areas with passenger traffic due to exposed cables.

Although these conditions are compliant from a technical (electrical) point of view, they are not compatible with the safety requirements for cruise terminals.

Challenge No. 3:

Large cable management vehicles

Cable management vehicles are used in an attempt to solve range problems. However, this leads to new problems.

Limited operating range due to the length of the vehicle rollers
Very heavy cable packages
Dependence on slip rings
Larger safety zones around energised 11kW devices
Increased maintenance requirements and longer downtimes

At cruise terminals, these systems often interfere with loading operations and conflict with passenger boarding bridges.

Design objectives for the shore power supply of cruise ships

Based on the experience gained from operating a cruise terminal, effective
shore power systems must fulfil the following requirements:

Supply of the entire berth length with a single system
Reduction in the size and weight of the system in the quay edge area
Elimination of slip rings and exposed, live components
Minimisation of manual cable handling

Removal of fixed obstacles along the quay
All high-voltage cables are kept away from the ground
Reduction in the number of people required for the connection process

The system can be concealed or removed when not required
Ensuring a clean, tidy quay suitable for passenger operations.
Basis for repeatable connection procedures across all ship classes.

The resolution of the dilemma ... with the iMSPO

The igus Mobile Shore Power Outlet (iMSPO) was specially developed for the conditions in cruise terminals.

"Bring the shore power to the ship, not the high-voltage equipment to the quay!"
Route several 11kV high-voltage cables to the connection point in a protected area
Do not lay cables on the ground or in areas with passenger traffic.
Fully comply with the safety principles of IEC 80005-1.

The iMSPO supports 11kV configurations with multiple cables for cruise ships
Obstacles (such as fixed connection points for shore power) are removed.
High-voltage cables laid exposed on the ground in publicly accessible areas are avoided
The manual effort and manpower required for connection processes is reduced
The repeatability of connection operations at different freeboard and inlet positions on ships is improved
Maintains a good visual impression of the terminal in publicly viewable terminals

Cruise terminals need a shore power supply that is available and working every time the ships arrive - without "workarounds" or compromises in operation.

By decoupling the upstream electrical infrastructure from the mounting point, the iMSPO at cruise terminals enables

flexibility in berth selection,
improve the perception of safety among passengers and crews and
protect long-term investments in the infrastructure.

IEC 80005-1 guarantees safety. The IMSPO ensures that shore power supply works in the "real" operation of a cruise terminal.
Plan your shore power supply around passengers, operations and future ship sizes - not fixed slots.
Start early with the coordination and planning of power architecture, berth geometry and connection strategy.

Sustainable shore power supply at the Rotterdam cruise terminal

In the video: Installation of the mobile shore power connection "iMSPO" at the port of Rotterdam.

In order to reduce emissions and noise in the urban area, the port of Rotterdam relies on an innovative shore power system from igus: the iMSPO Cruise. The movable "socket" supplies cruise ships along the 230-metre-long quay wall with energy flexibly and efficiency - regardless of their mooring position.

The system is installed underground in a trench and moves precisely to the desired location using a rol e-chain. Connection by just two people takes less than 15 minutes - safe, space-saving and standard-compliant (IEC 80005-1). Up to 16MW of power is supplied from renewable sources.

The result: Less CO₂, less noise, better quality of life - a pioneering step towards sustainable harbour infrastructure.

Find out more about the cruise terminal's shore power connection

Our solutions

igus® Mobile Shore Power Outlet

The iMSPO for cruise ships enables flexible positioning of power connections along the entire berth - exactly where they are needed. The system is fully compliant with IEC standards and can be used with any type of cable management system.