Shore Power at BCT

Brooklyn Cruise Terminal is equipped with shore power technology, allowing cruise ships to connect to the local power grid when docked.

Cruise ships connect New York City to the world. At Brooklyn Cruise Terminal (BCT), shore power is helping make those connections cleaner, more efficient, and better equipped for the future. Shore power allows compatible cruise ships to connect to the local power grid while docked, enabling them to shut down their diesel engines and reduce local emissions. Thanks in part to community advocacy, BCT was an early adopter of cruise shore power infrastructure, and the terminal continues to invest in improvements that make the system more flexible and compatible with a wider range of vessels.

How Shore Power Works

At BCT, connecting a cruise ship to shore power is a four-step process:

1. Electricity arrives from the grid. High-voltage electricity flows to BCT’s shore power substation, where it is stepped down to a voltage that can be used by the ship.
2. Power is managed at the terminal. Electricity passes through the shore power control room, which manages its safe transfer.
3. The ship is connected. A connection box and cable management system, known as a mobile jib, deliver electricity from the terminal to the vessel.
4. The ship switches to shore power. Once connected, the vessel receives electricity from shore and can shut down its diesel engines.

Expanding Shore Power Compatibility

BCT has made a series of investments designed to accommodate vessels of different sizes and configurations. In 2024, BCT replaced its fixed jib with a mobile jib, extending the reach of the shore power cables to a wider range of vessels. In 2025, a second connection point was installed to accommodate vessels with a mid-ship shore power hatch. In 2026, permanent hardware was added to the second connection point, increasing the durability of the system.

Together, these investments expanded BCT's vessel compatibility from 17 percent in 2024 to 86 percent in 2026.

For more details on shore power connections, visit the Cruise NYC dashboard.