On September 19th, the expedition vessel MS Maud achieved a historic milestone in Reykjavík as it connected to Iceland's power grid at the Faxagardur terminal. By plugging into shore power, the custom-built, small ship eliminates engine use, resulting in zero emissions. This transformation significantly reduces both fuel consumption and air pollution, replacing it with renewable electricity from Iceland, where 85% of primary energy comes from domestic renewables, as per the Ministry of Environment, Energy, and Climate.
The Mayor of Reykjavík, Dagur Eggertsson, emphasized the importance of addressing air quality challenges worldwide. Whether it's from traffic or marine diesel generators, innovative solutions are essential to minimize their impact on the environment.
"Enhancing air quality stands as one of the foremost challenges confronting cities worldwide today. Whether air pollution originates from traffic or emissions from marine diesel generators, the imperative remains: we must actively pursue novel and inventive solutions to mitigate its impact on our environment. The introduction of shore connections in Reykjavik signifies a momentous milestone, and I wish to convey my heartfelt congratulations to the dedicated teams at Associated Icelandic Ports and Veitur Utilities for this remarkable accomplishment. Reykjavík's growth and evolution have been closely tied to the Old Harbour, making it of paramount importance that we can now, in our fight against global warming, offer shore connections as a crucial step forward." said Dagur B. Eggertsson.
This achievement also signifies a turning point for Reykjavík. As Gunnar Tryggvason, the port manager of Faxaflóahafnir / Faxaports, pointed out, the adoption of green electricity means pollution isn't just reduced but eliminated. It's estimated that 30-40% of the fleet can be connected to electricity, and all vessels are expected to be connected by 2030, possibly even sooner in Iceland.
GÁRA'S CELEBRATED THEIR 30TH ANNIVERSARY
On September 22nd, Gára marked a significant milestone as they celebrated their 30th anniversary. This special day was joyously shared with their esteemed partners in Iceland, as well as the dedicated teams from their parent companies, TVG-Zimsen & Eimskip.
