Whitepaper
MARITIME ELECTRIFICATION REPORT
Maritime battery systems and onshore power supply
Dec. 15 2025
Advancing maritime decarbonization
Shipowners and operators seeking to decarbonize their fleets have an effective tool at their disposal: electrification. Batteries and onshore power supply are two electrification options helping reduce emissions and pollution for fleets racing to meet sustainability goals.
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Key Figures
Powering ships with batteries
High energy density and a long lifespan make lithium-ion (Li-on) batteries the maritime industry’s battery of choice. A growing number of ships are using batteries on board, either as part of hybrid configurations or as a sole means of propulsion.
Ships powered by batteries benefit from greater energy efficiency, improved response times and lower noise and vibrations. Using batteries also cuts tank-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
Taking advantage of onshore power supply
For ships at port, connecting to onshore power is another path to reducing emissions. This is especially true for large ships that cannot be fully electrified while at sea. When at berth, a ship using onshore power can cut its engines, eliminating CO2 emissions, as well as sulfur oxide (SOx), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter. This helps reduce local air pollution, directly improving air quality in ports and nearby communities.
Electricity supplied to the vessel usually comes from the grid, and occasionally off-grid sources such as port generators or renewable energy plants.
Chief Commercial Director
Bureau Veritas M&O
Maritime electrification offers a clear advantage for shipowners and operators: it helps lower emissions, reduce noise and boost energy efficiency
Managing battery risks
Proper management of Li-ion batteries is critical, as their use comports significant risks including thermal runaway, fires and explosions. The severity of these risks varies depending on the battery system’s specific characteristics, capacity, operational role and degree of resistance to wear, stress, and abuse (“ruggedization”).
Successfully integrating battery systems onboard ships requires careful planning. Depending on the vessel, considerations can include:
• Type and size of the battery system
• Inclusion of reliable safety measures
• Procedures to ensure the battery system can withstand the harsh marine environment
Assessing the future outlook for electrification
As the industry continues to invest in maritime electrification, governments worldwide are issuing policies that favor these technologies. Shipowners and ports must quickly learn how to navigate new regulations and how to standardize their equipment and practices to ensure safety, compatibility and interoperability. Collaboration among maritime industry stakeholders is key to meeting this challenge. Shipowners, crews, shipyards and their personnel need to work with technology providers, equipment vendors, investors and regulators to ensure the uptake of electrification solutions.
Bureau Veritas Rules
As a leading classification society, Bureau Veritas helps ensure that maritime electrification systems meet all relevant Rules requirements.
For batteries, these Rules apply to lead acid, nickel alkaline and Li-ion batteries. Other battery technologies can be approved on a case-by-case basis. The additional service feature BATTERY SYSTEM and a suite of additional class notations are also available for ships that meet the corresponding Rules requirements.
For onshore power systems, our Rules requirements are covered in the section of our Steel Ship Rules on onshore power supply. Ships that fulfil the relevant requirements are assigned the additional class notation OPS().
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What kinds of ships can use batteries?
In general, battery power is an appropriate option for vessels that sail short distances, have set operational profiles and stick relatively close to onshore grids. Car and passenger ferries have been early adopters of this technology. Supply vessels, which require dynamic positioning and make variable power demands, have embraced hybrid systems. Other vessel types that have embraced batteries include fishing vessels, cruise ships, tugs, general cargo ships and roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessels.
Large oceangoing ships that spend long periods away from shore are less suited to battery power. However, these ships can take advantage of onshore power supply when at port to achieve some emissions reductions.
2. How does Bureau Veritas help address battery-related safety issues?
Bureau Veritas helps ensure that maritime battery systems meet appropriate requirements through comprehensive certification. This involves conducting inspections, tests and audits to verify compliance.
Our efforts are focused on enhancing the safety and reliability of maritime battery systems and supporting the adoption of hybrid and fully electric propulsion technologies. We established mandatory Rules for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of battery systems, including Li-ion batteries above 20 kWh.
3. How widespread are onshore power systems in ports?
Onshore power supply has been a well-established solution in ports around the world for decades. In Sweden, the port of Gothenburg installed the first onshore power system at its ro-ro terminal in Älvsborg Harbor in 2000. Similarly, in the United States, the port of Los Angeles has used onshore power as an air quality solution since 2004, when it installed its first connection for container vessels.
Today, onshore power supply is most prevalent in Northern Europe, on the North American Pacific Coast and in East Asia. Supportive government policies and regulations should help accelerate the wider adoption of this solution worldwide.
4. What is the “any ship, any port” concept?
What does the maritime industry need to do to achieve it?
“Any ship, any port” means that any ship equipped for onshore power should be able to connect to any onshore power system, at any port.
To make this goal a reality, ports and vessels will need to standardize interconnection voltages, frequencies and connection hardware. As a result, safety, compatibility and interoperability are the primary focus of standards related to onshore power supply.
Advisory Services
Our advisory arm, Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore, helps shipowners and yards with maritime electrification. We provide support from the design stage through construction and operation of the vessel. Our team of experts can help shipowners and operators determine whether electrification solutions make sense for their vessels.
We also offer a portfolio of risk services that covers risk analysis for battery system integration and other alternative technologies. This helps clients successfully mitigate risks and prevent threats.
Learn more about maritime decarbonization
Decarbonization Trajectories Report | Future Shipping Team | Alternative Propulsion and Future Fuels | OptiCARBON™ |
