Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1207647
4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 5 FEBRUARY 2020 NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI THE government has announced a €50 million project which will enable cruise liners to be electri- cally supplied from the port while berthed. The shore-side electricity plant will enable cruise liners in the Grand Harbour to switch off their engines, reducing pollution in the area. A cruise liner generates the amount of nitrogen dioxide equiv- alent to 300,000 cars driving from Mellieha to Marsaxlokk over eight hours, a 2015 study revealed. The project will consist of two phases, the first being the sup- ply of shore-side electricity to five quays, and is expected to reach completion by 2023. The five quays will be able to supply berthed cruise liners with 33kV of energy and will see the laying out 22km of underground cables. Smaller-sized vessels will also be able to make use of the facil- ities, with a convertor being in- stalled, supplying the ships with 11kV of energy. The second phase will see the installation of two more quays at Ras Hanzir, with Infrastructure Malta architect Janice Borg stat- ing that the quays will be used for smaller-sized vessels. The shore-side electricity net- work that Infrastructure Malta is planning to develop in the Grand Harbour will be connected to the national grid through the Marsa North Distribution Centre. Infrastructure Malta CEO Fre- drick Azzopardi said the project will see a 39.6% decrease in car- bon dioxide, a 92.6% decrease in particulate matter, a 93% de- crease in sulphur dioxide and a 93% decrease in nitrogen dioxide. Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg said that this is the biggest environmental project in the south since the closure of the Marsa power station. "Around 49% of the population lives in the vicinity of the Grand Harbour, and as studies have shown the amount of pollution emitted by the cruise liners is very high, therefore we are looking at a project that will be improving the well-being of nearly half the population," Borg said. Borg also said that the govern- ment will be looking at securing EU funds for the project while insisting that the project will be contributing to Malta's agree- ment with the Paris treaty. Malta will only be the third EU country to adopt such measures in its ports while having the larg- est and most advanced facilities. The shore-side facility robotic arm situated on the pier will be extending towards the vessels when they are berthed, providing electricity for the ship. While the facilities will be op- tional for cruise liners, new ship designs all enable the use of shore-side electricity, accord- ing to the harbour master David Bugeja. He also said that while it will be optional, Malta's strategic posi- tion means that newly launched cruise liners regularly include the country in their route. €50 million Valletta shore-side subtation will allow cruise liners to switch off engines and reduce pollution from nitrogen dioxide equivalent to 300,000 cars driving from Mellieha to Marsaxlokk Valletta cruise liner pollution being tackled with €50m quayside electricity supply VIRTU Ferries has cancelled all voyages between Malta and Sic- ily for today, as harsher winds are expected to hit the central Mediterranean in the coming hours. "Kindly note that all voyages on Wednesday 5 February are cancelled due to bad weather," the company announced yes- terday. To make up for the change in schedule, Virtu Ferries said that extra voyages will be or- ganised tomorrow. An extra voyage will be leav- ing Pozzallo at 11:00am and arriving in Malta at 12:45pm. Another catamaran will be leaving Malta at 6:00pm and arriving in Pozzallo at 7:45pm. An early trip will be amend- ed, and will be leaving Valletta at 7:30am. The Met Office at Malta In- ternational Airport has issued a weather warning, as wind speeds are expected to climb to force six on Tuesday evening. Today, wind speeds are ex- pected to climb to force seven. Temperatures are also ex- pected to drop, with lows of 8°C and highs of 12°C today. The temperature is also ex- pected to drop even further to- morrow with lows of 6°C and highs of 11°C. Strong winds force Virtu Ferries to cancel today's trips between Sicily and Malta