The first of the two-phased project includes a €37m investment to provide shore power to the five main cruise ship quays of the Grand Harbour by the end of 2023. Excavation works have started for the underground electricity cables that will distribute electricity from an existing distribution centre to the quays at Valletta’s Grand Harbour.
‘Despite the pause in cruising operations, it has been a busy time for us at Valletta Cruise Port where together with a number of stakeholders, we worked tirelessly on a number of initiatives, including a project for developing shore-to-ship electricity infrastructure in the Grand Harbour,’ said Stephen Xuereb, COO of Global Ports Holding and CEO of Valletta Cruise Port.
Environmental considerations
Each quay will be supplied with shoreside transformers and shore-to-ship connection panels that enable ships to turn off their combustion engines and switch to electrical power at berth.
Preparing to welcome passengers
Viking plans to restart operations in the Mediterranean with Viking Venus and Viking Sea both sailing from Valletta. Maltese Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection Clayton Bartolo remarked, ‘The way Viking Cruises will be operating is a clear example of how tourism and public health can work well together...American tourists will be spending time on our Islands which will positively impact our local economy.’
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