Electrifying one of the world’s busiest cruise ports is a complex task. Our ports and maritime specialists guided PortMiami’s development and implementation of one of the nation’s largest vessel shore power programs, enabling lower-emission cruise operations while supporting long-term competitiveness and future growth.
Global maritime trade is undergoing a significant shift as ports, terminal operators and vessel owners invest in electrification to improve operational efficiency, accommodate future growth, reduce emissions, and remain competitive. As more container and cruise ships are built with shore power capability and international emissions requirements continue to evolve, ports are increasingly expected to provide the electrical infrastructure needed to support lower-emission vessel operations. In Florida alone, about half of the cruise vessels calling at the state’s major cruise ports are already configured to accommodate shore power, and that number is expected to continue growing as new ships enter service.
As the world’s busiest cruise port, PortMiami recognized the need to prepare its infrastructure for this transition. The Port launched a $130 million shore power program across five cruise berths to provide compatible vessels with shoreside electrical power while berthed. Delivering a program of this scale required phased implementation across active cruise terminals, coordination with Florida Power & Light, and an approach that balanced operational needs with existing electrical capacity.
Delivering a port-wide shore power program
Cruise ships require significant amounts of power while berthed and delivering that power reliably requires close coordination between the port, utility providers and cruise operators. PortMiami needed a solution that could accommodate growing demand from shore-power-capable vessels while maintaining operations.
As PortMiami’s Program Management Consultant for its Capital Development Program, we supported the shore power initiative from early feasibility through construction and activation. We developed an initial high-level concept plan and order-of-magnitude costs for providing shore power across the Port’s cruise and cargo berths. This plan helped PortMiami understand the infrastructure requirements, likely investment and practical considerations involved in moving from a port-wide ambition to an implementable program.
We supported the Port with coordination with local utility Florida Power & Light to assess the main substation and power-supply requirements needed to serve the Port. Our team also provided technical and cost-estimating support for an EPA Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grant application for an initial cruise shore power pilot project. As the Phase 1 Cruise Program advanced, we served as the owner’s representative during development of the basis of design and engineering design packages for five cruise berths, then provided technical expertise and inspection during construction.
This continuity allowed planning decisions, utility requirements, and berth-specific needs to remain coordinated as the program progressed.
Engineering shore power for a working port
We also developed the initial concept plan and order-of-magnitude cost estimates before helping the Port advance the program through design and construction.
A defining feature of the program is its integrated approach to power distribution. Florida Power & Light could provide enough power for three berths to operate shore power at one time, although the program covered five cruise berths. Rather than treating each berth as an independent installation, the system was designed to maximize available power across the port. The solution included switching equipment that allows available power to be distributed across paired terminal locations according to operational demand. By enabling vessels to connect to the local electrical grid while at berth, the system reduces reliance on onboard auxiliary engines and supports broader emissions-reduction efforts across the maritime sector.
Supporting cleaner and more competitive cruise operations
PortMiami’s shore power program reflects a broader shift in how ports are planning for the future. Electrification is increasingly being considered alongside terminal modernization, resilience, and operational efficiency as ports respond to changing customer needs and industry standards. By helping PortMiami deliver one of the country’s largest cruise shore power programs, we supported the port’s long-term strategy to remain a leading global cruise gateway while creating a scalable framework for future electrification projects.