The Decarbonlim project was presented during the Blue Limassol Forum 2026.

Dr Emmanouil Nikolaidis, Assistant Professor at the Department of Maritime Transport and Commerce, was one of the speakers at the Blue Limassol Forum, where he presented the progress of the Decarbonlim project.

The Blue Limassol Forum was held on 15 May at Frederick University, in the presence of the Shipping Deputy Minister, Marina Hadjimanolis, the Mayor of Limassol, Yiannis Armeftis, the Chairman of Lemesos EOA, Yiannis Tsouloftas, representatives of the maritime industry, and other stakeholders.

Dr Nikolaidis elaborated on the project, its implementation stages, and its expected benefits for the city of Limassol. Within the framework of the project, comprehensive technical and economic studies are being developed to assess the feasibility and economic and social viability of Onshore Power Supply (OPS) infrastructure at the Port of Limassol. 

OPS, or Cold Ironing, is one of the most recent technologies designed to reduce emissions in the maritime industry.

The Decarbonlim study examines the technical, financial, and social requirements of all stakeholders involved, including the Cyprus Ports Authority, port operators, the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, the Transmission System Operator, the Municipality of Limassol, and the various ship types approaching the port, all of which affect its competitiveness and development prospects.
OPS technology enables ships at berth to connect to shoreside electrical power while their main and auxiliary engines are switched off. This allows essential onboard systems — such as lighting, heating, cooling, refrigeration, and safety equipment — to continue operating during loading and unloading operations without using the ship’s engines. This process eliminates in-port emissions, significantly reduces noise pollution, and lowers overall operational and maintenance costs.

As Cold Ironing aligns with EU environmental objectives to reduce emissions within port areas and mitigate their impact on surrounding urban areas, the Cyprus Ports Authority promotes its integration at the multipurpose and container terminals of the Port of Limassol.

The project is expected to be completed by October 2026. It is being implemented by the Cyprus Ports Authority in collaboration with Frederick University, the Municipality of Limassol, the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC), DP World, EUROGATE, and specialized international partners. DBA S.p.A. developed the technical and design studies for the OPS infrastructure, while DNV contributed to the safety and risk assessment studies. Eric Van Hooydonk provided specialized legal and regulatory support.

The Port of Limassol is expected to become the first port in Cyprus capable of implementing this technology, pending approval of the relevant application. During the Blue Limassol Forum, Mayor Yiannis Armeftis called on the government to accelerate the necessary procedures to enable the faster implementation of the technology at the city’s port.