Marine Electrification / Infrastructure guide
Shore power planning: vessel, berth & utility interfaces
Scope a shore power project by clarifying onboard loads, berth arrangements, utility requirements, operating windows, and ownership.
Name the loads and the operating window before choosing equipment.
Say what the power connection is for
“Shore power” can mean supplying onboard loads at berth. A battery-electric or hybrid ferry project may additionally need propulsion charging within a service schedule. State both the intended function and the operating conditions in the brief so the project team can establish the appropriate technical scope.
Document vessel types, berth locations, typical and exceptional stays, access, and planned changes to the operation. Qualified electrical, vessel, terminal, and utility teams need a shared set of assumptions.
Define the project interfaces
| Interface | Questions to resolve |
|---|---|
| Onboard loads | What must be supplied, under what conditions, and who verifies the data? |
| Berth arrangement | Where will the vessel connect and how does that affect access? |
| Utility connection | What is the connection process and what evidence is needed? |
| Operation | Who connects, monitors, maintains, and responds to faults? |
| Future change | Which additional vessels or service patterns should be considered? |
Keep the utility conversation inside the program
Do not treat the utility interface as a final administrative step after equipment selection. Establish the information the utility needs, its process, and the responsibilities for any connection works. Separate confirmed information from assumptions and give unresolved items an owner.
For fleet charging context, WSDOT’s public ferry electrification program describes terminal and vessel charging work as part of one system effort. That illustrates why the shore and vessel programs need coordination; another project still needs its own technical evaluation.
Ask for an interface register at handover
A practical register records the requirement, its evidence source, the team responsible, the decision date, and the dependency if it changes. Use it alongside technical deliverables and the operating plan.
The result should help the owner see which decisions are ready, which depend on specialist work, and which assumptions could affect the sequence. Equipment ratings and engineering acceptance need project-specific professional analysis.
Sources & research notes
Company capabilities are based on the primary sources below. Scenario calculations, scope checklists, and fit assessments are our editorial analysis.