Norröna plugs in at Seyðisfjörður as Iceland's ferry port switches on shore power
The only car ferry linking mainland Europe with Iceland now switches off its engines when it reaches port. Smyril Line's Norröna has been connected to shore power at Seyðisfjörður, its Icelandic terminal on the country's east coast, with the system formally opened on 30 September 2026.
Norröna calls at Seyðisfjörður every week for eight months of the year on its North Atlantic route from Denmark through the Faroe Islands. In the shoulder seasons it stays alongside for more than a day and a half, which makes the berth one of the best places on the route to cut emissions. Smyril Line expects to save 7 to 8 tonnes of fuel and up to 26 tonnes of CO2 every week the ship is plugged in.
At a glance
| Seyðisfjörður shore power | |
|---|---|
| Ship | Norröna, ro pax ferry operated by Smyril Line |
| Port | Seyðisfjörður, Ports of Múlaþing, Iceland |
| Shore side | ShoreLink RoRoLink Fixed cable management system |
| Ship side | ShoreLink connection cabinet, onboard system designed and installed by ETV |
| Engineering | EFLA |
| Cost | ISK 95 million, mostly from the Múlaþing port fund, with ISK 2.6 million from the state Energy Fund |
| Savings | 7 to 8 tonnes of fuel and 22 to 26 tonnes of CO2 a week |
| Power | Iceland's renewable grid |
| In operation | September 2026 |
Clean power at the plug
Shore power is only as clean as the grid behind it, and Iceland's electricity comes almost entirely from hydro and geothermal sources. Every hour Norröna spends plugged in at Seyðisfjörður replaces diesel from its auxiliary engines with renewable power, and removes engine noise, vibration and exhaust from a small town that sits right next to the quay.
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