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Port of Maceió evaluates installation of OPS system to provide shore power to cruise ships, reduce emissions during docking, and reinforce decarbonization actions at the Alagoas terminal.
According to the website Movimento Economico, the Port of Maceió is studying the installation of an Onshore Power Supply unit, a system known as OPS, to provide shore power to cruise ships docked in the Alagoas capital during the high season.
Port of Maceió evaluates shore power for cruises
The proposal arose due to the high demand for cruises that pass through Maceió during the busiest months. While docked, the vessels keep engines powered by fossil fuels running to sustain their internal operations.
With the OPS, electricity would be supplied from shore, reducing the need to keep these engines running during the docking period. The measure is still in the phase of technical and financial feasibility study.
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The environmental coordinator of the Port of Maceió, Aldo Flores, states that the initiative aims to significantly reduce gas emissions at the terminal and reinforce alignment with International Maritime Organization goals.
Besides the environmental gain, the port administration sees in the project a possibility to generate revenue by supplying clean energy to the vessels.
Terminal remains strong on the cruise route
The 2025/2026 season ended with 35 cruise ships passing through the Port of Maceió, now pointed out as the second terminal with the highest movement of cruise passengers in the Northeast.
The next season is scheduled to start in November and continue until April 2027, keeping Maceió on the route of the main shipping companies navigating the country.
Decarbonization also involves waste and inventory
The terminal’s environmental agenda includes other measures supported by the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory. Documents produced between 2022 and 2024 allowed the creation of a mitigation plan already in implementation.
The Port of Maceió was also chosen as a demonstration terminal in Latin America in the global GloLitter project, aimed at managing vessel waste and reducing marine plastic litter.
The initiative involves the International Maritime Organization, Antaq, and technical cooperation from the Port of Antwerp-Bruges International.
