The Canadian government is injecting $14.3 million into eco-friendly maritime initiatives in Prince Edward Island, with a focus on enabling ships to connect to the island’s power network while docked at Port Charlottetown. This setup allows vessels to switch off their engines but still provide power to onboard facilities.
This funding, allocated through the Green Shipping Corridor Program by Ottawa, aligns with Canada’s commitment to establishing emission-free sea routes between multiple ports. Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon highlighted the positive economic impact on PEI’s tourism sector, emphasizing that such infrastructure upgrades attract environmentally conscious cruise lines seeking sustainable solutions.
The initiative follows international agreements like the Clydebank Declaration, signed by Canada and 26 nations in 2021, aiming to create green corridors. The program, initiated in 2023 with $149.7 million in funding over five years, supports clean port infrastructure and vessel testing.
Port Charlottetown CEO Mike Cochrane expressed enthusiasm for the project, noting its contribution to the cruise industry’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The CEO emphasized the community benefits of infrastructure enhancements, shared with Maritime Electric for mutual upgrades.
Maritime Electric assured that integrating shore power into the grid would not strain the system as peak demands align with off-peak cruise seasons. The targeted completion timeline for the port upgrade is fall 2029, with construction set to commence in the coming months.