Caribbean Maritime University eyes shore power sales for docked vessels

Caribbean Maritime University is preparing to sell shore power to vessels berthing at Jamaica’s ports, principal Professor Andrew Spencer disclosed at a higher education conference at Princess Resorts.

Spencer said climate pressures pushed CMU to adopt solar power. The campus now runs fully off the grid by day on solar generation, a shift he said has cut energy costs by billions. Officials are examining how that capacity could support shore power for visiting ships.

Shore power lets berthed vessels draw electricity from a local supply instead of burning fossil fuels while docked. Spencer noted that ships already buy water from the university and pay for it, and CMU wants to supply electricity on the same basis while they remain in port.

He said the move would bring substantial environmental, financial, and operational gains for vessel operators and surrounding port communities.

CMU still draws from the Jamaica Public Service Company grid at night, when demand is lower. Spencer said selling shore power while relying on that grid would not be practical, so the university is studying other sources. Options under review include green energy, blue energy, and nuclear-related approaches.

Separately, he said CMU has opened a new non-destructive testing laboratory with radiographic capability, describing the step as an entry into nuclear applications for industrial testing rather than nuclear power generation for its own sake.