A new cruise ship terminal at Port Southampton (England), claimed to be the greenest in the UK, was officially opened.
The GBP 55 million (EUR 64,5M / USD 76M) Horizon Cruise Terminal uses a total of 2000 roof-mounted solar panels generating "clean electricity" for the terminal's shoreside-power/plug-in charging for cruise vessels.
Providing shorepower to the berthed ships allows them to turn off the main diesel engines in order to reduce air pollution.
The name for Southampton's 5th cruise terminal was chosen via a competition that saw 4000+ name suggestions. The Port's other four passenger terminals are named Queen Elizabeth II Cruise Terminal, Mayflower Cruise Terminal, City Cruise Terminal, and Ocean Cruise Terminal.
The Horizon Terminal received support from Solent LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) and a grant of GBP 8 million from the Government's Getting Building Fund.
A second shorepower connection is being installed at Mayflower Terminal.