WSP Spearheads Major Shore Power Initiative in Miami: A Game-Changer for Environmental Sustainability

PortMiami is set to enable five cruise ship berths with shore power capabilities, following the successful completion of a comprehensive project executed in less than three years by engineering firm WSP.

“The project was delivered on a swift timeline to become operational,” mentioned Mark Valenti, project manager and Southeast region maritime lead at WSP.

This initiative included challenges such as integrating power solutions into a congested port filled with pre-existing underground utilities, and designing and implementing everything from substations to the cruise ship connectors.

According to Valenti, the project was designed with the future in mind, considering yet-to-be-built ships and projected sea level changes over the next 75 years.

“Miami aimed for 100% utilization of the shore power for all its cruise ships,” Valenti noted. He also shared WSP’s involvement in other projects such as Carnival’s new destination in the Bahamas and the development of the Nassau Cruise Port for Global Ports Holding.

Miami now has four berths ready, and a new terminal for MSC is slated to incorporate a shore power system by early next year, timed with the debut of the vessel World America.

“This required a considerable amount of power,” Valenti explained, highlighting coordination with Florida Power & Light during the project. “A fully flexible system was designed to handle various demands.”

A distinctive feature of the setup in Miami includes the use of customized, containerized substations, provided by Powercon, which also add an artistic touch to the functionality.

“This endeavor was a true partnership involving multiple stakeholders including building departments, cruise lines, and manufacturers. It was a collaborative effort,” Valenti concluded.

With Miami’s advancements, other ports are now motivated to follow suit in adopting shore power capabilities, according to Valenti.