Cold Ironing Implementation Overview in European Ports—Case Study—Croatian Ports

Abstract

Cold ironing technology, recognized as a tool to reduce emissions while ships are at berth, has been introduced in several European ports aligning with the international and European environmental and legal framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The study aims to identify the prospects for cold ironing technology’s introduction into Croatian state-owned ports according to European sustainable conditions. The authors surveyed a group of port experts and stakeholders. Response analysis showed that the technology implementation in Croatian ports is feasible, but only 40% of state-owned ports currently dispose of a minimum electric connection power of more than 1 kV. Furthermore, the analysis showed that all surveyed experts confirmed a cold ironing technology application perspective in state-owned ports. Substantial investments and financing demands have to be concerned to achieve sustainable implementation. Significant efforts are still needed to overcome the challenges in the technology application requiring cooperation between stakeholders. The international legislative regulations implemented by the IMO insist on the safety of ships and people, respecting both the security of navigation at sea and overall operations in the port.

Cold Ironing and the Study of RES Utilization for Maritime Electrification on Lesvos Island Port

“…The study emphasizes the importance of coordinated policies and investments among countries to maximize the technology's environmental and economic advantages. A study by Glavinovic et al [28] revealed that 40% of these ports currently have high-voltage connections over 1 kV, crucial for effective cold ironing implementation. However, a significant portion, 60%, lacks adequate infrastructure, indicating a need for substantial investment.…”

Study on the Impact of the Whole Life Cycle Operation Process of Large Ports on Environmental Externalities

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