DP World has brought Latin America its first operational shore power installation, switching on an Onshore Power Supply system at the operator’s South Terminal in the Port of Callao. The installation allows berthed vessels to plug into 100% certified renewable electricity rather than run auxiliary engines, a milestone reported on 26 August 2026.
The system at Callao supplies certified renewable electricity to ships while alongside, enabling an alternative to generating power on board. DP World described the installation as available at its South Terminal; sources indicated the launch on 26 August 2026.
The shore power connection is designed for use while vessels are at berth, when auxiliary engines would otherwise be operating to meet onboard electrical demand. According to the report, ships connecting to the new installation will draw fully certified renewable power for the duration of their stay alongside.
How the system operates
Onshore Power Supply, commonly called shore power, provides a direct electrical connection from the port to a vessel’s systems. The Callao installation supplies certified renewable electricity that ships can use in place of shipboard generators while moored.
The technical specifics of the Callao installation were not detailed in the report, but the core function reported is the substitution of shore-supplied renewable electricity for the output that would otherwise come from auxiliary engines. The operator noted the installation is sited at the South Terminal where DP World manages container handling operations.
Regional significance and next steps
DP World’s reported commencement of shore power at Callao marks the first operational terminal of this kind in Latin America, as presented in the report. The development was framed in the coverage as a step in the port sector’s broader move towards providing alternative, shore-supplied power options for vessels.
The report did not list further roll-out plans or offer estimates of uptake by shipping lines visiting Callao. Details about any incentives, technical standards adopted or timetable for making the facility available to particular vessel types were not provided in the published summary.
The opening of shore power at an active terminal in Callao places the facility among a small but growing set of ports that can offer onshore electrical supply to berthed ships. How quickly the service is adopted by calling vessels will be determined by compatibility, commercial arrangements and the operational choices of ship operators.
Ports and ship operators increasingly look to options that allow ships to avoid using onboard generators while at berth; the Callao installation supplies a certified renewable option for that purpose at DP World’s South Terminal. Sources indicated the launch on 26 August 2026, identifying the installation as the first of its kind in the Latin American region.
A concise factual summary
• Operator: DP World.
• Location: South Terminal, Port of Callao.
• Service: Onshore Power Supply providing 100% certified renewable electricity to berthed ships, reported as the first operational terminal-scale shore power installation in Latin America.
The report from reports supplied the factual basis for this account; further technical, commercial or operational details would need to be confirmed by DP World or port authorities for a fuller assessment of the installation’s capacity and expected usage patterns.