A NEW £6m project at the Port of Southampton could cut emissions and harmful air pollution.

ABP which operates the Port of Southampton plans to install shore power for cruise ships at a multi-user terminal.

This will allow vessels docked at Europe’s major cruise port to switch off their engines and plug into shore-side power supplies.

This would mean reduced carbon emissions or harmful air pollutants.

The city port would be the first major commercial berth and cruise terminal using this technology in the United Kingdom with the project costing £6,313,171 in total.

Of this, £4,434,350 will be grant money from the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership which supports projects to boost the Solent region.

ABP’s regional director, Alastair Welch, said: “Shore power represents a major opportunity for the cruise sector, the port and the city of Southampton.

By giving cruise ships the opportunity to “plugin” when they’re alongside will completely eliminate emissions during that time.

“Our plans are also in line with the Government’s 2050 Maritime Strategy on a pathway towards lower and zero emissions.”

SJ Hunt, a board director and delivery champion for the Solent LEP said: “At their core, each of these projects offer strong sustainability and economic development, and are hugely significant for the Solent region.

“From supporting the creation of hundreds of new jobs, providing high-tech, state-of-the-art training spaces, new laboratories and business engagement zones for hundreds of learners and businesses through to having a beneficial impact on air quality and significantly reducing the risk of coastal flooding of properties for the next 100 years.”

It comes as civil chiefs unveiled their plans to fight pollution last week.

Full details are yet to be finalised however, city bosses are planning to increase the number of charging points for electric vehicles, plant 5,000 trees, create 25 urban meadows and reduce the number of parking spaces in the city centre over the next years.

The newly announced measures are part of the Green City Charter’s delivery plan.

Southampton City Council said the plan will be updated every three years and stressed that civic chiefs have been “ambitious” by recognising the scale of work needed and “realistic” by identifying there is a need to improve their understanding and establish more detailed actions.