By
Laura Hyde |
MSC Cruises’ ship MSC Poesia has become the first cruise ship to connect to shore power at Le Havre Port in Normandy, France. It is also the first time a port on the Atlantic coast has connected a cruise ship to shore power.
To mark the occasion, the port held a ceremony attended by Édouard Philippe, mayor of Le Havre and president of Le Havre Seine Métropole, as well as Benoît Rochet, CEO and chairman of the executive board of Haropa Port, and Erminio Eschena, director of international affairs and industrial relations for the MSC Group France.
“With this first shore power connection, Le Havre demonstrates that a major port can be both efficient, welcoming and exemplary,” said Philippe. “It’s a source of pride for our city and a strong signal for the future of the French coastline.”
The installation of shore power at Le Havre was made possible thanks to joint investment by Haropa Port, the French State and the Normandy Region. The electrification of cruise berths at the port will enable cruise ships to make zero-emission calls at the port.
“This first connection embodies the vision of a modern, attractive, and sustainable port,” said Alexandra Ruiz, managing director of Le Havre Croisières. “Le Havre is investing for cruise companies, for their passengers, and for a more sustainability cruise.”
MSC Poesia is the first cruise ship to connect to the shore power facility at Le Havre Port in France
“This first shore power connection of MSC Poesia in Le Havre is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to the energy transition,” said Eschena. “We applaud the vision and investment of the city of Le Havre and its partners, which position this French port among the European leaders in sustainable infrastructure.”
Since 2017, MSC Group’s Cruise Division has equipped all its new ships with shore power connectivity; these ships completed 142 connections across 13 European ports in 2024. Alongside MSC Poesia, MSC Cruises’ other vessels, MSC Preziosa and MSC Virtuosa, will regularly connect to the shore power facility at Le Havre during 2026.