Sustainable Marine Structures

Sustainable Maritime of Onshore Power Supply Systems for Ships in Thai Ports

Phatthawut Kanokwannakhon

Faculty of Logistics, Burapha University, Mueang Chonburi 20131, Thailand

Thanyaphat Muangpan

Faculty of Logistics, Burapha University

Kittisak Makkawan

Faculty of Logistics, Burapha University, Mueang Chonburi 20131, Thailand

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/sms.v8i1.2935

Received: 19 November 2025; Published: 5 March 2026

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Abstract

Maritime transport faces escalating decarbonization pressure, prompting ports and shipping lines to evaluate onshore power supply (OPS) as a near-term abatement option for hoteling (at-berth) emissions. This study assesses the feasibility of implementing OPS for ship berthing at Bangkok Port, Thailand, using a sequential mixed-methods design. Qualitative evidence from semi-structured interviews with 26 shipping lines and 3 Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) respondents, combined with a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT)-based contextual assessment, identifies readiness conditions and adoption constraints. A 30-year discounted cash-flow appraisal evaluates investor-side performance (NPV, IRR, and payback) for a pilot at container berths 20A and 20F and tests tariff mark-up sensitivity under 2022–2024 fuel and electricity price conditions. A socio-economic appraisal monetizes avoided air pollutants (PM2.5, NOx, SOx) and CO2 using AIS-based hoteling profiles and recognized emission-factor approaches, and reports EIRR. Results show that OPS is financially unattractive for the port operator in all scenarios (base case: NPV = −4.61 million USD; IRR = −3.38%); breakeven would require an ~115% tariff mark-up, which may reduce uptake. In contrast, the economic case is positive (EIRR = 7.78% at a 7% social discount rate), yielding an estimated net social benefit of 417,885 USD/year and avoiding 885.46 tCO2/year for a pilot demand of ~1.25 GWh/year. These findings indicate a coordination gap between infrastructure investment and vessel uptake, implying a need for targeted public co-financing, transparent tariff design, and phased deployment linked to demonstrated demand. The study contributes policy-relevant evidence for medium-scale ports in emerging policy settings where social benefits may exceed private returns. 

Keywords: Onshore Power Supply (OPS), Feasibility Study, Green Port, Sustainable Port, Port Decarbonization, Shore-to-Ship Power, Thailand

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