Shore power-enabled ships, such as Aida Cruises’ new AIDAcosma and Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, can now plug in at the port’s Horizon Cruise Terminal and Mayflower Cruise Terminal.

Further cruise ships, such as Celebrity Cruises’ new-ship Beyond and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima, will be able to use the new technology when they make their maiden calls at the port this month and in the summer respectively. 

The total shore power project cost £9 million, supported by a grant from the Solent Local Growth Deal, arranged through the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Associated British Ports’ head of cruise, Rebekah Keeler, said: "We are delighted to have reached this exciting milestone and we are looking forward to working with multiple cruise lines this year as they plug in for zero emissions at berth and make tangible progress towards their own decarbonisation goals."