2023-07-29 10:00:05
The shuttle travels on the canals, bridge after bridge, between three centuries of history. At the gates of the Mediterranean, the bases of the first breakwater in the port of Sète (Hérault) date back to “time of Louis XIV” (1666), recalls Philippe Malagola, president of this regional public establishment, life jacket on his shoulders. Today, heading for a new construction site: the electrical connection of ships to the quay is being prepared in the commercial port, the main activity of the entire complex, far ahead of fishing and yachting.
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On around ten quays, the works provide for four connection points, which concern the busiest piers (approximately 550 stopovers out of 1,100, in 2022). After a regional deliberation in 2019, then a first shovel in February 2023, boats will soon be able to run on low-carbon electricity. In principle, from December.
For now, ships pollute, even when they are moored. Their engines continue to run alongside, generally on diesel. Including oil-powered shipping, shipping is responsible for around 3% of all greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming, according to the International Maritime Organization.
“Adapting to the constraints of different ships”
The electrification of the quays will promote the“acceptability” of the port, hopes its managing director, Olivier Carmes. Especially vis-à-vis the local population, the first affected by polluting emissions from boats. “Nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide and fine particles”, lists Mr. Malagola. In recent years, a group of residents has already protested against the project to accommodate yachts in the city center, quay of Algiers. Since 2019, these luxury vessels have finally occupied another location, in a marina fitted out for this purpose.
The work in progress is supposed to benefit other types of craft. As the Cristal, some 160 meters long. Blue initials are inscribed roughly on the hull: those of the Italian company GNV. Smoke escapes from this ferry on this rainy July morning. He is waiting for his passengers and their cars, leaving for Morocco. A family clientele.
On land, civil engineering works, roads and various networks are continuing. Gallows will deliver the current to the edge. “We have to adapt to the constraints of the different companies and the different ships”, sums up, from his office in Aix-en-Provence, Luis Roca, head of critical infrastructure for the engineering company Cap Ingelec, prime contractor on the site. The installations will be compatible both with the frequency of the United States and with that usual in Europe – respectively 60 hertz and 50 hertz. As for the voltage, to carry the current to the boats, it will increase from 20,000 volts to 11,000 volts, or even 6,600.
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