A MULTI-million-pound scheme to slash emissions from cruise ships visiting Southampton has gone live.

The new system allows vessels moored alongside the Horizon and Mayflower terminals to switch off their engines and plug into shore-side power supplies.

It follows years of controversy about cruise ships and their impact on the environment, including air quality.

In 2020 members of Friends of the Earth gathered in Mayflower Park and called for vessels to turn off their engines between voyages.

Daily Echo: An aerial photograph of the Port of Southampton.An aerial photograph of the Port of Southampton.

Last year a new report claimed that cruise ships were a likely source of risk to passengers, staff and people who lived near ports or worked in shipyards.

The report was based on international research led by the University of Exeter.

Professor Lora Fleming said: "Cruise tourism was rapidly expanding pre-Covid-19 and our research shows it causes major impacts on the environment and on human health and wellbeing.

“We need much better monitoring to generate more robust data for the true picture of these impacts.

“Without new and strictly enforced national and international standardised rules, the cruise industry is likely to continue causing serious health and environmental hazards.”

Daily Echo: Friends of the Earth members stage a protest at Mayflower Park.Friends of the Earth members stage a protest at Mayflower Park.

New ships including Queen Mary 2 are fitted with shore power connectivity, enabling them to take advantage of the new facilities at Southampton.

Maritime Minister Robert Courts MP said: "It's amazing to see ports such as Southampton leading by example to utilise clean maritime technologies for a greener port and better air quality. They’ve done a brilliant job with their shore power facility for cruise ships.”

The £9m power project was supported by a grant from the Solent Local Growth Deal, arranged through the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Port operators ABP Southampton implemented the scheme with the aid of Powercon.

ABP’s Head of Cruise, Rebekah Keeler, said: “We are delighted to have reached this exciting milestone and we are looking forward to working with multiple cruise lines this year as they plug in for zero emissions at berth."

The arrival of each cruise ship pumps an estimated £2.7m into the local economy, helping the industry to support 14,000 jobs in the Solent area.

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