It’s Today’s Shipping Advantage.
Regulations are tightening. Penalties are rising. And the pressure to decarbonise is no longer optional, it’s operational.
With MEPC 83, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has sent a clear signal: the maritime industry must accelerate its efforts to cut emissions. New measures—such as the Greenhouse Gas Fuel Intensity (GFI) requirements and stricter Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) targets—demand that shipping lines reduce their environmental impact across every phase of their operations.
While fuel innovation and digital reporting will play their part, there’s one solution available now that remains underused: shore power for cold ironing and propulsion.
At NatPower Marine, we believe the fastest, most practical way to cut emissions at port is simple: plug in.
“The industry doesn’t need more pilot projects it needs infrastructure it can count on. That’s why we’re building a network designed around the routes ships actually sail, not just where port politics allow.”
says Stefano D.M. Sommadossi , CEO of NatPower Marine.
Why Shore Power Is the Smartest Immediate Move
Regulatory pressure from the IMO is accelerating and compliance can’t wait. Starting in 2027, ships must use cleaner fuels, submit more detailed emissions reports, and meet much tougher performance targets.
Failing to comply will come with very real costs: financial penalties, reputational risks, and operational disruption.
That’s why shore power for cold ironing is no longer a “nice to have.” When ships are docked, they’re still burning fuel just to power basic systems. In addition, the emissions during navigation within 200nm are polluting communities too, and that’s the next area of regulation that will come.
Shore power for cold ironing and near-shore electric propulsion enables ships to switch to clean electricity while at berth, reducing CO₂, NOₓ, and particulate emissions to near zero during port stays.
With shipping responsible for 30–35% of urban air pollution in port cities, regulations and common sense are driving the need to cut emissions near shore first. Electrification offers the fastest, most cost-effective solution to achieve this goal.
Electric propulsion is no longer a future concept—it’s already here. New hybrid and fully electric container ships, ferries, and service vessels are being ordered, and many existing ships are already capable of entering and leaving ports using electric propulsion. Compared to carbon-based and alternative fuels, electrification is not only more cost-effective but also more immediately deployable.
While hydrogen, ammonia, and e-methanol are promising options for long-haul hybrid voyages, electric propulsion holds key advantages:
- Efficiency: Direct electric propulsion is nearly five times more efficient. Delivering 1 kWh of energy to the propeller requires just 1.08 kWh of electricity, versus 4.5–4.9 kWh for alternative liquid fuels.
- Availability: The complex logistics and infrastructure needed for alternative fuels will take time to develop.
- Impact: The first 200 nautical miles of a voyage near shore can already be operated at zero emissions using electric power.
Shifting to electric propulsion near shore is a practical, efficient first step toward maritime decarbonisation.
Compliance Pressure Is Rising—Act Before 2027
MEPC 83 affirmed what many in the industry had long anticipated: carbon is increasingly becoming a cost centre. The GHG Fuel Intensity regime and stricter CII baselines will make emissions performance a key part of shipping economics not just sustainability reporting.
From detailed SEEMP plans to real-time fuel data and expanding Emission Control Areas (ECAs), the direction of travel is clear: operators need to act now or risk falling behind.
Shore power won’t solve everything, but it offers an immediate, scalable way to lower portside and near shore emissions and stay ahead of regulatory curves without retrofitting your fleet.
Beyond the Port: A Network Built for Real Shipping Lines
Here’s the challenge: Many ports are developing shore power infrastructure in isolation, driven by grant availability rather than long-term, scalable business models. But shipping doesn’t operate in silos. To truly support decarbonisation, shore power must be part of a coordinated, commercially viable network that aligns with how the global maritime industry functions.
At NatPower Marine, we are not building one-off systems or trial projects. We are developing the first network of shore power stations designed around actual shipping and cruising routes not just where local politics allow, but where global shipping flows.
Shipping lines need certainty. They need infrastructure that works across regions and voyages, along their relevant routes, so that the crucial decision of retrofitting a fleet for cold ironing and propulsion can be made with certainty of harvesting the benefits of such decision. That’s exactly what we are delivering.
Let’s Lead This Transition Together
Changing how the industry operates is complex, and with regulatory deadlines approaching, now is the time to act not wait.
The shipping industry is competing with sectors like aviation, data centres, and ground transportation for access to clean electricity, sustainable fuels, and the infrastructure required to deliver them.
Each shipping line is competing with its peers to offer carbon-free services, gain acceptance from cities and nations as clean contributors to economic growth, and operate without harming public health.
Being a first mover offers significant advantages:
- Priority access to scarce clean energy and infrastructure,
- Stronger positioning with customers, shareholders, and regulators,
- Cost savings in the short term and more predictable expenses in the long term.
Leading the transition also enables companies to stay ahead of regulatory changes—shaping the conversation rather than reacting to it.
NatPower Marine is ready to partner with operators who want to stay competitive, reduce emissions, and future-proof their operations.
Shipping electrification for cold ironing and propulsion isn’t just an environmental fix it’s a strategic advantage.
We’re building confidence in a cleaner maritime future.
Ready to see how it fits into your operations? Get in contact now.