On 16 November 2023, Terntank's Tern Fors drew electricity from the shore, marking a new milestone for the development of onshore power supply (OPS) in seaports.

The tanker was connected for over three hours, consuming 1,424kWh, and used the electricity to run its unloading equipment.

The vessel is equipped with battery packs, ensuring no blackout will occur if the OPS connection is lost.

Terntank and the Port of Gävle already 'plugged in' Tern Fors in February 2023 but with no electricity transfer.

To enable safe cold ironing, the containerised OPS unit on the quay was overpressurised with air so that no gases could enter it, while the connecting room on board the tanker was filled with nitrogen to keep the oxygen level below 5% to prevent any sparks from leading to explosion.

The Port of Gävle partakes in the Green Cable project, led by the Port of Gothenburg, which is tasked with devising a global standard for tanker cold ironing in hazardous environments.

Apart from Gävle, only the Port of Long Beach at BP Terminal's Pier T offers OPS (8.0MW at 6.6kV) for tankers.

Photo: Terntank