Tanker Shore Power: Engineering the Interface Between Safety and Efficiency

The implementation of Onshore Power Supply (OPS) for the tanker segment presents a unique set of technical constraints that differ significantly from container or cruise electrification. Recent industry insights from Chris Poyner, Shore Power Expert at ABB, highlight a fundamental disconnect between vessel design and terminal infrastructure that must be reconciled to meet upcoming European regulatory mandates.

The Conflict of Connection Points

Current tanker operations are characterized by a "tug-of-war" over the physical location of the shore connection. According to Poyner, "Ask a terminal operator where to plug in a tanker, and they’ll likely say midships. Ask the vessel owner, and they’ll tell you the stern."

This geographical split on the vessel deck creates a hard engineering compromise:

• Aft (Stern) Connection: This is the preferred choice for vessel owners because it keeps high-voltage electrical hardware outside of the Explosive (EX) zone. However, this requires managing heavy, rigid high-voltage cables over a massive distance to reach the jetty, which is often unfeasible for existing terminal layouts.
• Midship Connection: While this aligns with the terminal’s infrastructure, it places the electrical connection point directly into the EX zone—the exact area where the vessel is actively discharging flammable product.

Technical Solution: Pressurized Environments

To bridge this gap, the industry is moving toward specialized hardware that allows for safe midship connectivity. Poyner notes that this requires "installing a pressurized switch room in a highly congested area."

By utilizing overpressure (pressurization) techniques, the electrical components are housed in a module where the internal pressure is kept higher than the atmospheric pressure outside. This prevents any potentially explosive gases from entering the room, allowing high-voltage switching to occur safely near the manifold.

The "Vacuum" Risk in Vessel Design

A critical takeaway from ABB’s operational assessment is that vessel owners frequently underestimate the physical deck space required for safe cable management. "You cannot finalize a vessel's configuration in a vacuum," Poyner asserts, urging owners to consult with the specific terminals they frequently visit before committing to a deck layout.

Independent Analysis: The Path to 2030

From an analytical perspective, the tanker segment is reaching a tipping point. While FuelEU Maritime focuses heavily on container and passenger vessels for 2030, the infrastructure requirements for tankers are more complex due to these safety zones.

The move toward standardised, pressurised midship solutions rather than long-run aft cables appears to be the most viable path for the European tanker fleet. However, this requires a level of "port-to-ship" synchronisation that has not yet been seen in the liquid bulk sector. Owners who invest in flexible, EX-rated midship connections now will likely find themselves with higher berth availability as TEN-T ports begin their 2030 electrification rollouts.