The Canadian Government has announced $22.5 million in financial assistance to the Port of Quebec to support the electrification of its three docks welcoming cruise ships and the two docks hosting merchant vessels. This is a key plank in the Port’s ambitious sustainable development plan which targets a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases (GHGs) over its entire territory by 2035.
The Federal Government’s financial assistance fits within Transport Canada’s Green Marine Corridors Program – Clean Ports. It is a major milestone toward the Port of Québec’s dockside electrification, a project evaluated at $55 million.
Once all conditions are met, the project could consist in installing five electrical connection stations to serve three docks dedicated to cruise operations and two docks for general cargo ships connected to the resupply of the mining industry in the Canadian North.
“We have made dockside ship electrification a pillar of our Vision 2035 for good reason. This project will position the Port of Québec as a world leader and will have a major impact on the decarbonization of port activities in Québec City. We are very pleased to reach this major threshold today,” noted Port of Québec President and CEO, Mario Girard.
Ships account for more than 80% of the GHGs generated by all activities on the Port of Québec territory. With these investments in electrical connections, the Port is addressing the main source of the port activity’s GHG emissions and atmospheric contaminants.
Current trends in the cruise industry have led the Port of Québec to forge ahead in the dockside electrification for its ships. In a 2021 report, the Cruise Lines International Association announced that 82% of future ships will be electrically enabled, unlike the majority of ships in the past. Fewer than 3% of the world’s ports are equipped for dockside electrification. These investments will enhance the Saint Lawrence maritime corridor’s attractiveness as a tourist destination. This will give an undeniable advantage to the ports along the Saint Lawrence while adding one more advantage to the Port of Québec’s competitiveness.
The Port of Québec now intends to pursue talks with the Québec Government to secure the remaining investments needed to complete this project.
(Port of Quebec photo)
