PortMiami Set to Activate Shore Power at Five Cruise Berths

PortMiami is on the verge of having five berths equipped to provide shore power for cruise ships, thanks to an ambitious project completed in just under three years with the assistance of engineering firm WSP.

“It was a very quick turnaround to get it operational,” stated Mark Valenti, project manager and Southeast region maritime lead for WSP.

The project involved overcoming significant challenges, such as routing power to terminals in an already crowded port filled with underground utilities. WSP’s work included designing and installing substations and the actual plugs that connect ships to shore power.

Valenti explained that the project has been future-proofed, considering not only current ships but also those that are yet to be built, as well as potential sea level changes over the next 75 years.

“The goal in Miami was 100 percent utilization for all cruise ships,” said Valenti. He also mentioned that WSP is involved in several other projects, including Carnival’s new private destination in the Bahamas and the recently developed Nassau Cruise Port for Global Ports Holding.

In Miami, four berths are nearly ready, with MSC’s new terminal set to feature a shore power system when it opens early next year, just in time for the new World America.

“We are talking about a lot of power,” Valenti emphasized, noting the close collaboration with Florida Power & Light throughout the project. “We designed a fully flexible system to accommodate these variations.”

A unique aspect of the project is the containerized substations supplied by Powercon, which are specific to Miami and include an artistic design element.

“This project was a true partnership with the building department, cruise lines, manufacturers, and more. It’s been a team effort,” Valenti said.

“Now that Miami has done this, other ports are in a race to get it done,” he added.