guides.
The rules, technology and numbers behind port decarbonisation, explained plainly and sourced to the regulation text. Each guide is kept current by the DTF Maritime News desk.
Shore power (onshore power supply, cold ironing): what it is and how it works
Shore power, also called onshore power supply (OPS) or cold ironing, is a connection that lets a ship at berth switch off its auxiliary engines and draw electricity from the land grid instead. Under EU law, container and passenger ships above 5,000 gross tonnage must use it in major EU ports from 1 January 2030.
AFIR for ports: shore power and LNG deadlines explained
Under AFIR, Regulation (EU) 2023/1804, TEN-T core and comprehensive maritime ports must be able to supply shore power for at least 90% of port calls by container and passenger ships above 5,000 GT by 31 December 2029, where traffic exceeds 100 container, 40 roll on roll off passenger or 25 other passenger ship calls a year. AFIR also required LNG refuelling at TEN-T core maritime ports by 31 December 2024 and at least one shore power installation at every TEN-T core inland port by the same date.
FuelEU Maritime explained: targets, scope and penalties
FuelEU Maritime, Regulation (EU) 2023/1805, has applied since 1 January 2025 to ships above 5,000 GT and requires the greenhouse gas intensity of energy used on board to fall 2% below the 2020 reference of 91.16 gCO2e/MJ from 2025, 6% from 2030, 14.5% from 2035, 31% from 2040, 62% from 2045 and 80% from 2050. Deficits are penalised at EUR 2,400 per tonne of VLSFO equivalent energy, and from 2030 container and passenger ships must use shore power at berth in TEN-T ports or pay EUR 1.5 per kWh.
EU ETS for shipping: how the carbon market applies to ships
The EU ETS has applied to ships of 5,000 GT and above since 1 January 2024, covering 100% of emissions on voyages between EU ports and at berth and 50% on voyages to or from non EU ports. Shipping companies surrendered allowances for 40% of 2024 emissions and 70% of 2025 emissions, and from 2026 emissions they must surrender 100%, now including methane and nitrous oxide.
UK ETS maritime: what ships and ports need to know
Since 1 July 2026 the UK ETS has covered emissions from ships of 5,000 GT and above on voyages between UK ports and while in UK ports, including at berth on international voyages, with offshore ships added from 1 January 2027. Allowances for 2026 and 2027 are due by 30 April 2028, and international voyages are not covered, although a 2028 start at 50% has been proposed.
Electric ferries and port charging: how ships plug in
Battery electric ferries recharge at each berth in minutes, using automated plugs, charging arms or robots that deliver from about 1.4 MW to 15 MW per charger. Battery sizes range from about 1 MWh on Norway's Ampere (2015) to more than 41 MWh on China Zorrilla, the largest battery ship in service since October 2026.
Alternative marine fuels: LNG, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen
LNG is the most available alternative marine fuel, with bunkering at 222 ports and 73 of the 137 alternative fuelled ship orders DNV recorded in the first half of 2026. Methanol, ammonia and hydrogen cut emissions only when made from biomass or renewable power, and each needs 2.4 to 4.5 times the tank space of marine gas oil.
Shore power in Malta: Grand Harbour and Malta's ports
Malta has offered shore power to cruise ships in Valletta's Grand Harbour since 1 December 2023, through a €33 million system that can serve up to five cruise ships at once and connected 94 ship calls in its first year. Further projects for RoRo and cargo berths in the southern Grand Harbour and for container berths at Malta Freeport are under way to meet EU 2030 rules.
Cold ironing: cos'è e come funziona nei porti italiani
Il cold ironing è l'alimentazione elettrica da terra delle navi ormeggiate, che consente di spegnere i motori ausiliari durante la sosta in banchina. L'Italia ha destinato 700 milioni di euro del Piano nazionale complementare al PNRR all'elettrificazione delle banchine, con 675,63 milioni già assegnati a 34 porti.
DeutschLandstrom für Schiffe: so funktioniert die Versorgung in deutschen Häfen
Landstrom versorgt Seeschiffe am Liegeplatz mit Strom aus dem Netz, damit die Hilfsdiesel an Bord abgeschaltet werden können. In Deutschland zahlen Landstromanlagen nur 0,50 Euro Stromsteuer je Megawattstunde statt 20,50 Euro, und ab 2030 wird der Anschluss für Containerschiffe und Passagierschiffe in großen europäischen Häfen Pflicht.
NederlandsWalstroom voor zeeschepen: zo werkt het in Nederlandse havens
Walstroom voorziet een afgemeerd zeeschip van elektriciteit van het landnet, zodat de hulpmotoren aan boord uit kunnen. Rotterdam wil in 2030 minstens 90 procent van de bezoeken van ferry's, cruiseschepen, roroschepen en offshoreschepen op walstroom hebben, en Europese regels maken walstroom vanaf 2030 verplicht voor containerschepen en passagiersschepen in grote havens.