Joao Galamba creates a group to accelerate the electrification of the cruise terminal in Lisbon

Infrastructure Minister João Galamba signed an order on Thursday setting up a working group to speed up the electrification of the Lisbon cruise terminal in order to minimize the pollution caused by these ships.

The announcement was made this Friday during the signing of a protocol between the Chamber and the port of Lisbon to install a center for creative companies and technological innovations related to the maritime economy at the Pedrousos dock in the Portuguese capital.

The working group is coordinated by the minister’s office and includes a representative of the Port of Lisbon, two representatives of the Lisbon Chamber and a representative of E-REDES, said João Galamba, stressing that he intends “that Lisbon can have a 100% electrified cruise terminal as soon as possible”, with in order to reduce the pollution caused by these large ships when moored.

Cruise ships moored in Lisbon are currently powered by fossil fuels, which has a serious impact on the pollution of the city.

The mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas (PSD), stressed that the electrification of the port of Lisbon to reduce pollution levels in the city is important for the city, as well as the payment of tourist tax by tourists visiting Lisbon on these ships.

“Today people pay tourist tax in hotels and still don’t pay it on cruise ships. Cruise ships have to pay tourist tax because they have to contribute to the city. They must contribute to the cleansing of the city. the well-being of the city and therefore this is another front that I am also working on with the port of Lisbon,” he said.

According to a study published by the environmental association Zero, the port of Lisbon ranks 5th in the “ranking” of port infrastructure in Europe with the highest levels of pollution associated with cruise ships.