# Marine Vessel Cold Ironing (Onshore Power Supply)

*Last updated: 2026-06-25*

> Onshore power supply (OPS), widely known as cold ironing, connects a berthed vessel to the shore-side electrical grid so its main engines and auxiliary generators can be shut down completely during the port call.

Onshore power supply (OPS), widely known as cold ironing, connects a berthed vessel to the shore-side electrical grid so its main engines and auxiliary generators can be shut down completely during the port call. The ship draws power from land rather than burning fuel at berth, cutting diesel consumption, sulfur and nitrogen oxide emissions, and quayside noise substantially. The technology is well established at cruise and ferry terminals and is expanding to container berths, though retrofitting existing infrastructure remains costly and many vessels still lack compatible onboard connection hardware. Unlike exhaust scrubbers, OPS eliminates berth emissions at source rather than treating them after combustion, but requires compatible shore and ship installations.

**Source:** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_ironing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_ironing)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Marine Vessel Cold Ironing (Onshore Power Supply) |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 111 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-25 |
| Source | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_ironing |

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