The Port Authority of New South Wales (NSW) has announced that Australia’s first shore-powered cruise terminal is closer to operation, with the installation of the project’s crucial Onshore Power Supply (OPS) system marking one of the most complex engineering milestones to date.
Port Authority of NSW CEO John McKenna said the installation milestone highlighted the scale and complexity of the Australian-first project.
“The OPS is the powerhouse of the entire shore power system at White Bay, with the 10 shipping containers housing an intricate network of transformers, converters and switchgear to provide the electricity needed for visiting cruise ships,” McKenna said.
“With that now installed, our teams are focused on securing power to the site from Rozelle and completing the complex underground electrical cabling, seawater cooling system and the wharf-side Cable Management System (CMS), which is necessary to bring shore power directly to the cruise ship.
“This project represents a significant step forward in reducing emissions from the cruise sector and demonstrates how investment in innovative, sustainable port infrastructure can deliver long-term environmental benefits,” added McKenna.
Fauzan Zulkhepli, Port Authority of NSW’s project director, said the project was breaking new ground in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere.
“This project has required significant engineering coordination, making it one of the most technically complex harbor-side infrastructure projects currently being built in NSW,” Zulkhepli said.
“It combines high-voltage electrical infrastructure, underground cabling and piping, purpose-built wharf equipment and an innovative seawater cooling system designed to cool the powerful electrical OPS system,” added Zulkhepli.
“The unique cooling system draws water from Sydney Harbor and circulates it through heat exchangers to regulate temperatures within the OPS, removing the need for traditional large-scale mechanical cooling systems to help reduce energy consumption and noise.
“It’s the first time a seawater cooling system has been installed in an operational port in Sydney, inspired by the Sydney Opera House’s seawater cooling system installed during the building’s construction.”
The authority said in a press release that the two-storey OPS structure converts 33,000 volts of electricity from the local power grid to a compatible voltage and frequency for cruise ships visiting White Bay Cruise Terminal.
Project construction on site is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with cruise ships set to begin testing and connecting to shore power during the 2026-27 summer cruise season.
