August 27, 2025
As announced on 26 August, Port of Antwerp-Bruges has begun construction on a shore power installation at the cruise terminal in Zeebrugge’s Zweedse Kaai, with the first ships expected to connect in early 2027.
The system will allow cruise ships to switch off their diesel engines and draw green electricity directly from the grid, cutting quayside CO₂ emissions to zero while also reducing noise, smoke, and odour pollution. The port will be able to supply two cruise ships simultaneously, three years ahead of the EU’s 2030 deadline for mandatory shore power. Plans for a second installation are already being considered.
The project is part of a wider redevelopment of the terminal area, including a new passenger building with boarding bridges, battery storage, and more green space along the quay. These upgrades are designed to boost efficiency while also improving the livability of the surrounding area for residents, passengers, and crew.
Shore power will enable us to reduce emissions at the cruise terminal to zero while providing more comfortable conditions for passengers, crews and local residents. From 2027, ‘plug-in on arrival’ will become a reality in Zeebrugge, even before it becomes compulsory in Europe in 2030
… said Rob Smeets, COO Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
Currently, cruise ships at the Zweedse Kaai are responsible for about 5% of total CO₂ emissions from vessels at Antwerp and Zeebrugge, underscoring the potential climate benefits of the switch.
This project combines state-of-the-art infrastructure with quality of life by reducing emissions, odour and the generation of smoke. We purposefully set out to provide a future-proof port for cruise vessels that welcomes visitors without burdening the environment. By doing so, we are proving that sustainability and economic dynamism can go hand in hand
… commented Dirk De fauw, the mayor of Bruges and Deputy Chair of the Board of Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
