igus wins UK Ports Innovation Award for ground-breaking shore power system

As legal, financial, and regulatory pressure intensifies on global ports to address Scope 3 emissions, the call for actionable solutions is growing. Following the UK Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that makes downstream emissions are legally mandatory in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), ports are now under scrutiny to measure and mitigate the emissions generated not just within their boundaries, but across the entire supply chain.

Specialist in motion plastics and energy systems, igus, has a groundbreaking solution: the iMSPO (igus Mobile Shore Power Outlet). This mobile, modular shore power system is designed to meet the urgent demand for clean energy at berth, enabling ports to drastically reduce emissions from docked vessels and take meaningful strides toward Scope 3 compliance.

Ships at berth are among the largest contributors to port-related emissions, often running diesel generators for power. These emissions, rich in CO₂ , NOx, SOx, and particulate matter, fall squarely under Scope 3. Many ports still lack the infrastructure to offer shore power across all berths, leaving a gaping hole in their ESG reporting and sustainability strategies.

The iMSPO solves this challenge with a flexible, self-propelled socket system that delivers medium-voltage shore power directly to vessels (Container, Cruise, Ferry, Ro-Ro), regardless of their mooring position. Installed above the fender system and controlled remotely, the iMSPO can travel in excess of 400 meters along the quay, ensuring full berth coverage without the need for multiple fixed installations resulting in zero dead spots where the vessels cannot connect.

Future-proof investment in port sustainability
Designed to meet IEC 80005-1 standards and the EU Machinery Directive, the iMSPO system is corrosion-resistant (C5-M) and IP67-rated for electrical safety. By replacing multiple fixed sockets with one mobile unit, ports can reduce cabling, switchgear, and civil engineering costs, accelerating ROI while enhancing operational flexibility. More importantly, they gain the ability to shut down shipboard diesel generators, cutting emissions at the source and aligning with EU ETS and MRV requirements.

From compliance to credibility
A recent report from digital emissions monitoring platform, PortXchange, makes it clear that Scope 3 is no longer optional, it is the new standard for credibility, capital access, and competitiveness. igus is committed to helping ports meet these demands. With extensive testing, proven deployments, and customer-centric engineering, the iMSPO creates a clear pathway to zero-emission port operations, proven through receiving the “Innovation in Sustainable Motion Technology Company of the Year 2025” award from the UK Ports Committee.

The committee praised igus for the system saying it stood out as a flagship example of sustainable innovation, offering a scalable solution to one of the most pressing challenges in port sustainability.

www.igus.com