DP World has commissioned Latin America’s first shore power system for container ships at its South Terminal in the Port of Callao, Peru.
The new system allows vessels to switch off their auxiliary engines while alongside and connect directly to the terminal’s electricity grid.
This significantly reduces fuel consumption, noise and emissions during port stays.
The shore power infrastructure supplies vessels with 100% certified renewable electricity and is expected to avoid more than 6,300 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions per year.
According to the company, this represents a reduction of approximately 30 tonnes of CO2-equivalent per vessel call.
The installation has a capacity of up to 7.5 MVA, making it suitable for some of the largest container ships calling at Callao.
Around 80% of the vessels currently using Pier 3 are already equipped for shore power connections, which means the system can begin delivering environmental benefits immediately without waiting for a major fleet transition.
The container ship CMA CGM PLATINUM became the first vessel to use the new shore power system.
By connecting to the terminal grid, the ship was able to shut down its auxiliary engines while at berth and receive electricity directly from shore.
The project was included as part of the $400 million Bicentennial Pier expansion, one of the largest infrastructure projects at the terminal.
It also forms part of approximately $1 billion invested by DP World in Peru.
The company has additionally committed around $105 million to a broader decarbonization program in Callao.
This program includes renewable electricity, terminal electrification and the introduction of electric cargo-handling equipment.
Shore power is becoming an increasingly important part of port decarbonization because large container ships continue to consume fuel even when they are stationary.
Auxiliary engines are normally required to provide electricity for onboard systems, refrigeration, lighting, ventilation and other essential equipment while a vessel is in port.
By replacing this onboard generation with electricity from the shore, ports can significantly reduce emissions close to densely populated coastal areas.
The environmental benefits are particularly significant when the electricity comes from renewable sources, as is the case with the new Callao installation.
DP World’s South Terminal has also continued to expand its role as one of the most important container hubs on the west coast of South America.
In 2025, the terminal handled more than 2 million TEU, becoming the first terminal on the west coast of South America to exceed that level in a single year.
The combination of growing container volumes and electrification means that infrastructure such as shore power could have an increasingly significant impact on emissions generated by vessels during port calls.
The Callao project demonstrates how ports are moving beyond efficiency and capacity expansion toward electrified and lower-emission terminal operations.
As more container ships become equipped with shore power connections, similar systems are expected to become an increasingly common feature at major ports around the world.
For Latin America, the commissioning of the Callao installation represents an important milestone in the transition toward cleaner and more sustainable maritime transport.
