shore power

USAGE SUMMARY

"shore power" is a correct and usable term in written English.
This term is often used in marine contexts, such as boating or sailing. For example, "We need to connect to shore power before departing in order to charge the batteries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

However, some ships are equipped to use "shore power", drawing electricity from land-based power plants.

The Guardian

We are pushing for them to use shore power but they have resisted".

The Guardian

Andjel, however, questions FOE's use of shore power as a metric for air pollution reduction.

The Guardian

"These boats need more than shore power can provide when they are moored up.

The Guardian - Sport

Some ports on the West Coast, from Alaska to California, have been using shore power for nearly a decade.

The New York Times

Citing CLIA's letter to Keever, she writes: "To use shore power as a metric is highly misleading because shore power facilities with the capacity to supply cruise vessels are unavailable at the vast majority of ports where cruise ships call".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

So far, calls by the port for tax breaks for on-shore power have failed, disappointing port officials in Gothenburg.

The New York Times

The Plant business offers barge mounted, on-shore power plants, petrochemicals, and nuclear plants.

Forbes

From the Great Lakes to the Hudson River to Long Island's shores, power plants built in the middle of last century, most of them fossil-fueled, withdraw billions of gallons of water every day using antiquated "once-through" cooling water intake systems.

Huffington Post

The new shore-power facility was a joint initiative between federal and provincial agencies and two cruise lines, Holland America and Princess Cruises.

The New York Times

Renewable technologies considered include hydro, on-shore and off-shore wind power and biomass.

Energy Policy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing environmental impact, use "shore power" to emphasize the reduction of emissions from ships while docked. It is understood to reduce emissions, however, it is not necessarily zero emissions, as the grid must generate power.

Common error

Do not assume "shore power" is inherently 'green' or renewable. While it reduces ship emissions, the electricity source powering the grid could still be from fossil fuels. Always consider the power generation source when evaluating the environmental benefits.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shore power" functions primarily as a noun, often used as a direct object or subject in sentences. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use in various contexts, signifying its established grammatical role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

38%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shore power" is a well-established term referring to the practice of supplying electricity to ships from land-based sources while docked, primarily to reduce air emissions. As evidenced by Ludwig, its usage is very common across news, scientific literature, and general discussions. While the grammatical status of the phrase is correct, it's important to recognize that the environmental benefits depend on the source of the electricity itself. Alternative phrases such as "cold ironing" and "land-based power supply for ships", exist, and they each offers a slightly different nuance. Therefore, the phrase is a key concept in discussions about maritime sustainability and port infrastructure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

land-based power supply for ships

Replaces the term "shore" with "land-based" to emphasize the origin of the power.

ship-to-shore power connection

Highlights the connection between the ship and the shore-based power source.

cold ironing

This is a synonym, primarily used in the maritime industry, referring to the practice of connecting a ship to shore-based electrical power to reduce emissions.

alternative maritime power (AMP)

This is another common industry term specifically referencing the process of using land-based electrical power for ships.

grid-supplied vessel power

Emphasizes that the power originates from the electrical grid.

dockside power

Focuses on the location where the power connection is made.

external vessel electrification

Highlights the process of providing electricity from an external source.

onshore power supply

Similar to land-based, but emphasizes the location as being 'onshore'.

portside electrical connection

Highlights where the vessel connects into shore-side power, focusing on infrastructure.

maritime grid connection

This term is less common, and emphasizes the connection of the vessel to a broader marine electrical grid system.

FAQs

How does "shore power" reduce pollution from ships?

Instead of burning fuel to generate electricity while docked, ships using "shore power" connect to the local electrical grid. This allows them to turn off their engines, reducing emissions of pollutants like sulfur oxides and particulate matter.

What are some alternative terms for "shore power"?

Synonyms for "shore power" include "cold ironing" and "alternative maritime power" (AMP).

Is "shore power" available in all ports?

No, not all ports are equipped with "shore power" infrastructure. Some ports, especially on the West Coast, have been using it for years, while others are in the process of adopting the technology.

What factors hinder the wider adoption of "shore power"?

The high cost of installing the necessary infrastructure in ports and retrofitting ships to be compatible with the technology are significant barriers. Also, differences in electrical frequencies between ships and ports can create compatibility issues.