The largest container terminal in Türkiye, Asyaport, has implemented the country's first Onshore Power Supply (OPS) system, in a new step toward decarbonising maritime logistics in the region.
The newly installed system enables docked container ships to power down their engines, instead drawing electricity directly from the shore. The new shore power connection aims to lower emissions and enhance air quality for the surrounding Tekirdağ area.
Designed over a three-year period by Turkish engineers and utilising primarily domestic equipment, the OPS system will supply high-voltage electricity to two mainline vessels and three feeder vessels simultaneously. The installation is the latest in a series of emissions-reducing technologies installed by Asyaport. Crane operations across the terminal have now been made fully electric, with the goal of managing cargo more efficiently.
The initial OPS operation was launched with MSC Oscar, a 20,000-TEU container vessel on MSC’s TIGER service route between Asia and Europe. Over a 48-hour berth, the MSC Oscar received the necessary power from Asyaport’s OPS system, which met all its electrical needs without relying on traditional fuel-based power, according to a press release from the company.
Commenting on the accomplishment, Asyaport’s Technical Services and Planning Manager, Besim Dönmez, noted, ‘This project underscores the strength of Turkish engineering, and Asyaport is proud to support our carrier clients in reducing emissions while developing Tekirdağ as a hub for sustainable trade.’
The port has invested $10 million into the OPS project and has plans for a further expansion of renewable energy sources for terminal operations, with the aim of creating a renewable energy supply chain from production to consumption in the Tekirdağ region.
