Dunkirk first port in France to offer 'cold ironing' for containerships

The channel port of Dunkirk has become the first in France to offer shore power to shipping lines, according to this report in WorldCargoNews. The first hook-up took place yesterday when CMA CGM’s 17,000 teu APL Singapura docked at Dunkirk’s Terminal des Flandres. Alternatively known as “cold ironing”, turning to local power networks rather than running engines while in port can lead to significant improvement in air quality in the immediate hinterland, as previous projects in ports in Europe and US have amply demonstrated. In fact, according to this Freightwaves report, California is now considering extending its cold ironing legislation.