The final steps towards quieter cruise ship power are within in reach for Balmain residents as the shore power project prepares to connect a new supersized ship charger to the electricity grid.
A critical piece of specialised equipment, recently installed on site, is the two-storey Onshore Power Supply structure, made up of ten shipping containers, which is effectively a giant power hub for visiting cruise ships.
The most critical work left to complete in the coming months involves trenching and cabling to bring a new power supply from Ausgrid's Rozelle substation to White Bay. Currently crews are carrying out service locating and pot holing at night along Victoria Road, between Clubb and Darling streets.
The Onshore Power Supply will convert 33,000 volts of electricity from the local grid into a compatible frequency and voltage for docked cruise ships to plug in to via a Cable Management System on the wharf, eliminating the need for vessels to run diesel engines while at berth.
Currently, ships visiting at White Bay must keep their diesel generators running to keep a ship's essential equipment and systems operating for passengers and crew while they are at port. This contributes to local air emissions, and noise for residents.
Seventy per cent of cruise ships docking at White Bay have the capacity to plug into a shore-based electricity supply, which means they will not need to use their diesel fuel onboard generators. This could see a potential reduction in noise from cruise ships engines/generators, estimated at up to 10 decibels.
With every kilowatt matched by purchased renewable clean energy, shore power at White Bay is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 4,000 tonnes each year - the equivalent of removing around 1,100 vehicles from NSW roads annually - reducing vessel emissions and noise for neighbouring communities.
Onsite construction is continuing installing the site's underground network of electrical cables, the CMS and the specialised seawater cooling system, which will cool the equipment inside the OPS.
As part of the project's focus on sustainability, seawater from Sydney Harbour will be used to cool critical shore power infrastructure, rather than conventional cooling systems. This is an innovative solution that lowers energy consumption, reduces operational noise and minimises the project's environmental footprint.
Project construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with cruise ships set to begin testing and connecting to shore power during the 2026-27 summer cruise season.
Minister for Transport John Graham said:
"I am pleased to see this initiative nearing completion - this giant structure, perhaps the largest power point in NSW, is almost ready.
"Once we connect the power and switch it on, it will improve the local environment for residents close to the terminal with reduced air emissions and noise.
"The final step will mean disruptions as we track the cables along Victoria Road and local streets, but it will be worth it.
"Shore power will cut thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions each year and deliver cleaner, quieter outcomes for local communities."
Port Authority of NSW CEO John McKenna said:
"The installation of the Onshore Power Supply is a major engineering milestone for this Australian-first project - acting as the engine room in supplying landside electricity safely to visiting cruise ships.
"Our teams are now focused on securing power to the site from Rozelle and completing the complex network of underground electrical cabling, seawater cooling system and specialised wharf infrastructure necessary to bring shore power online and support the routine connection of cruise ships at White Bay Cruise Terminal.
"This project represents a significant step forward in reducing emissions from the cruise sector and demonstrates how investment in innovative port infrastructure can deliver long-term environmental benefits."
Labor Candidate for Balmain, Philippa Scott said:
"Next year we're expecting 40 cruise ships to berth a White Bay. When capable vessels plug into the shore power instead of running onboard generators, it will transform the lives of Balmain residents.
"Not only will it be quieter when ships are at port, but when the shore power supply is matched by purchased renewable energy, there is also a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
"It is important that we can improve the daily experience for the local communities while supporting an industry that contributes billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to the visitor economy each year."
