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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. recently announced it has partnered with Miami-Dade County to make its new state-of-the-art Cruise Terminal B, the Pearl of Miami, and certain homeported vessels “Shore-Power Ready” by fall 2023.
The new facility, the Pearl of Miami, can accommodate cruise vessels carrying up to 5,000 cruise passengers. The terminal was designed with sustainability at the forefront and was constructed to LEED Gold standards for optimizing energy, water efficiency, air quality, and utilization of local materials and resources.
In addition, approximately 90 percent of all subcontractors, vendors and suppliers were local to the region, reducing the carbon footprint of the project and encouraging local economic growth. The new terminal will be fitted to service Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ shore-power capable vessels.
The announcement follows the company’s recent launch of its redesigned global sustainability program, Sail & Sustain. As part of this program, the company also recently unveiled its long-term climate action strategy and goal to reach carbon neutrality through reducing carbon intensity, identifying and investing in technology including exploring alternative fuels and implementing a voluntary carbon offset program. As part of its commitment to a more sustainable world, the company is purchasing high quality, verified carbon credits to offset three million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) and help bridge the gap in its decarbonization efforts until new technology becomes available.
“I am so proud that Norwegian is reiterating its commitment to our efforts to make PortMiami Shore-Power Ready by 2023,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said. “The incredible work of the PortMiami team and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will ensure that PortMiami is a leader in shaping a more sustainable cruise industry.
“We look forward to working with all partners to reduce emissions and make the ‘Cruise Capital of the World’ more resilient, as part of our county’s aggressive efforts to cut our carbon footprint and mitigate the impacts of climate change,” the mayor added.
“Climate action is one of the key focus areas of our global sustainability program, Sail & Sustain, and partnering with Miami-Dade County to bring shore-power capabilities to our new state-of-the-art terminal at PortMiami aligns with our long-term climate action strategy,” said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
“We are committed to driving a positive impact on society and the environment as demonstrated by not only this partnership to bring shore-power to the ‘Cruise Capital of the World’ but also the design of our newly developed, award-winning cruise terminal at PortMiami which was constructed to LEED gold standards.”
In February, Mayor Levine Cava launched an initiative to bring shore-power to PortMiami, collaborating with Miami-Dade’s major cruise line partners. Since then, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act announced a $2 million grant allocation for the first phase. Such phase will transform the power levels at PortMiami from the electrical grid to cable management systems for the heavy plugs and outlets on the vessels. This system requires all parties to implement improvements to the electrical grid and supply lines, equipment on the pier, and shore-to-ship connection on the vessel.
