On Friday 7th March, Montrose Port Authority (MPA) were pleased to welcome Tess White, Scottish Conservatives and Unionists MSP for North East Scotland, to the Port. During her visit, a parliamentary motion was presented, acknowledging Montrose Port’s shore power initiative, Plug Montrose, the first of its kind in Scotland. This initiative highlights the Port’s impact on sustainability and innovation in the maritime sector.

The self-funded £1 million joint project with Plug Shore Power Limited, aims to reduce carbon emissions from offshore vessels. Instead of relying on diesel-fuelled auxiliary engines, shore power offers a cleaner alternative by supplying electricity directly from the shore with a 100% Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO). Since its launch in April 2024, the project has saved an impressive 558  tonnes of CO₂, which is the equivalent of an average UK car driving around the world 105.5 times. 

With Berths 1 and 2 already operational and Berth 3 set to follow imminently, 33% of the Port’s berths will soon be electrified. This marks a major step towards reducing emissions and supporting the offshore energy sector’s transition to cleaner operations.

The Scottish Parliament formally acknowledged Montrose Port’s leadership in these sustainable operations through a motion logged in September 2024. This motion congratulated Montrose Port Authority on the successful launch of its shore power facility and recognised its role as the first Scottish port to offer this service to offshore energy vessels. Additionally, it highlighted the Port’s commitment to achieving net zero and inspiring other UK ports to follow suit. 

This shore power project is just one of many initiatives Montrose Port is undertaking to invest in greener infrastructure and towards becoming Scotland’s first carbon-neutral port. A big thank you to Tess White MSP for taking the time to visit and acknowledge the impact of this work. 

Read the full motion here.

You can learn more about our Net Zero ambitions here: https://montroseport.co.uk/net-zero/