When it comes to cruising, it is all about the food. It is great to have a choice of food at a buffet, but the way in which you prepare it can make all the difference in the world. Princess Cruises and its staff go to great lengths to ensure that the food is served at the correct temperature. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of this, and so end up eating food that is too hot, resulting in food poisoning.
Some 20 years ago, a young bride entered into a contract with a shipbuilder in the UK to build the world’s first electric ship, the Sovereign of the Seas. The ship was never actually built due to the economic crisis of the time, but the design was kept in a state of readiness for use. Today, the ship has been renamed the Golden Princess, and is the flagship of the Princess Cruise line, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in Juneau, Alaska.
Princess Cruises is celebrating its 20th anniversary of serving Alaska and has an ambitious expansion planned for the next 20 years. This summer cruise line will add three new ships and new destinations to its fleet, and is spending a combined $1.8 billion in the next three years on new ships, as well as renovations to existing ones.
When Princess Cruises launched its shore power program in 2001 in collaboration with the City and Borough of Juneau and Alaska Electric Light and Power Company, it created history.
The cruise company is now celebrating 20 years of shore power at the port, where ships dock at Franklin Dock and tap into local excess hydroelectric power while turning off their diesel engines.
Majestic Princess made her maiden call to Juneau and was linked to the electricity system, marking the 20th anniversary. The event was attended by Princess Cruises President Jan Swartz, Majestic Princess Captain Dino Sagani, Alaska Electric Light and Power Company President and General Manager Connie Hulbert, Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon, and City Manager Rorie Watt.
(Picture credit: Princess Cruises)
“Shore power in Juneau has been a significant win-win situation, not only for Princess, but also for Alaska Electric Light and Power Company customers and residents of the City and Borough of Juneau, who have been incredible partners over the last 20 years,” Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz said. “Through our mutually beneficial cooperation, the cruise industry has been able to decrease air pollution and enable cruise ships to ‘plug in.’”
In addition to this investment, Princess has credited every dollar spent on electrical energy in Juneau for the last 20 years to a cost of power adjustment, or COPA account. The credit will be utilized to offset fuel costs in the next quarter, with any remaining money being returned to Juneau households and businesses in the form of an electric bill refund. To far, the community has received $8.5 million in benefits.
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“The implementation of shore power in Juneau 20 years ago was a truly remarkable accomplishment, and through our partnership with Princess, this first-of-its-kind program became a reality in our capital city,” said Connie Hulbert, president and general manager of Alaska Electric, Light and Power Company.
“We are pleased that our distant city, with its own isolated power system, is the first in the world to utilize this unique passenger vessel technology, which has benefited the Juneau community economically and environmentally.”
Juneau, Alaska, has a plethora of ships moored.
A specifically constructed transformer, as well as a complex system of cables, circuit breakers, and control circuits, are among the specialist shoreside equipment required to enable a ship to “plug in.” During the day-long calls, the shore-based energy powers all onboard facilities.
Princess has installed custom-built hardware and automation on all 14 of its ships, which automatically links the ship’s electrical network with the local one onshore. Princess ships connect to more than 300 shore power hookups each year.
Multiple cruise lines currently utilize the technology at ports such as Seattle, Vancouver, San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Halifax, Shanghai, and Kristiansand.
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