The Port of San Diego will add its third shore power connection next year.

The Board of Port Commissioners green-lighted a $676,000 equipment purchase and consulting contract with Watts Marine (formerly known as Cochran Marine). 

The additional connection will be available at its B Street Cruise Terminal to support the port’s goals to significantly reduce pollutants, including nitrogen oxide and diesel particulate matter, and greenhouse gas emissions.   

The design phase of the third shore power connection is scheduled to begin this winter and is expected to be completed in 2024. The port’s first shore power connection for cruise ships went into service in 2010, and a a second connection installed in 2022, allowing two ships to simultaneously use shore power. 

The port’s total shore power investment in infrastructure for its cruise and cargo terminals tallies $24.7 million to date, according to the port. Most cruise ships departing from the port sail roundtrip to Mexico, use San Diego as a turnaround point or call there during repositioning cruises. 

The move to install an additional shore power connection comes as the cruise industry has focused on making its ships more sustainable with the ability to use shore power, along with engines to burn cleaner fuel like liquified natural gas, green methane or biofuels when available. 

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