Dunkirk port inaugurates cold ironing with CMA CGM boxship

The cold ironing system installed at Terminal des Flandres is expected to become fully operational during the first half of this year.

By plugging into an onshore electricity supply, ships calling at port can shut down their auxiliary engines while still getting the power they, particularly in order to maintain controlled temperatures in refrigerated containers.

The use of cold ironing offers zero emissions of sulphur, nitrogen oxides and fine particles while ships are at berth, and significant reduction in noise pollution.

“Our decision to develop this particularly innovative solution allowing containerships to plug into onshore power at the Terminal des Flandres is in line with the pro-active environmental policy that the port of Dunkirk has been pursuing for many years,” said Stephane Raison, chairman of the Port of Dunkirk Executive Board.

Future works include the design and supply of the cold ironing system to fit into six 40-foot containers and converting the public electricity supply for use by ships at port. With capacity of 8MW – enough to power nearly 1,000 homes – the system is deemed to be one of the most powerful ever to be installed in Europe.

Christine Cabau Woehrel, executive vice president in charge of industrial assets at CMA CGM Group, commented: “Given CMA CGM’s steadfast commitment to installing more environmentally responsible solutions onboard its vessels, the group supports cold ironing and we will continue to equip our fleet accordingly.

“We are ready to test this system with other European port authorities that are committed to using cold ironing at their container ship terminals, as the Port of Dunkirk has successfully done,” she added.

The project was co-financed by the Urban Community of Dunkirk, the Hauts-de-France region and the Port of Dunkirk. CMA CGM covered the cost of the equipment needed to connect the vessel.

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