A new chapter for Virgin Voyages and Portsmouth International Port is officially powered up. Last week, Valiant Lady became the first Virgin Voyages ship to connect to shore power in Europe, successfully plugging into Portsmouth International Port’s newly commissioned system and switching off her engines while alongside.
The first commercial connection of a cruise vessel to Portsmouth’s shore power system means Valiant Lady can draw 100% renewable electricity directly from the grid while in port, reducing emissions from the ship while alongside and helping to improve local air quality.
The milestone brings together investments being made both at sea and ashore. Three of Virgin Voyages’ four award-winning Lady Ships are equipped with shore power equipment, allowing them to connect and switch off their engines where compatible shoreside infrastructure is available. Portsmouth, meanwhile, is home to the UK’s first multi-berth, multi-user, multi-frequency shore power system, designed to allow multiple vessels to plug in simultaneously.
Jill Stoneberg, Senior Director of Social Impact and Sustainability at Virgin Voyages, said: “Progress happens when the infrastructure on land and the technology at sea come together, which is exactly what this moment represents. Seeing Valiant Lady connected in Portsmouth turns that ambition into something tangible. Shore power is one piece of a much bigger decarbonisation journey, and partnerships with forward-thinking ports like Portsmouth are essential to moving that work forward.”
For Portsmouth, the connection marks another first in a relationship with Virgin Voyages that has continued to grow. The city is the first European port to have welcomed all four Lady Ships — Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady — and now becomes the location of Virgin Voyages’ first European shore power connection.
Andrew Williamson, Head of Cruise and Ferry at Portsmouth International Port said: “Together with Virgin Voyages we have reached another major milestone in our shore power journey, with the first commercial connection of a cruise vessel. Valiant Lady successfully plugged into our newly commissioned system meaning it is taking 100% renewable power straight from the electricity grid and switching off engines while in port. With plans to continue this across their three calls this month, we are reducing emissions and helping to improve air quality for the city.
“The relationship we have built with Virgin Voyages over the last five years as their UK home port has seen us celebrate many record breaking moments together, and this is another step in aligning our values.”
Valiant Lady plans to plug in across all three Portsmouth calls this month, putting the new infrastructure to work immediately. The port’s shore power investment forms part of its wider ambition to become the UK’s first zero-emissions port by 2050. Find out more: Sustainability and innovation – Portsmouth Port
