In recognition of their pioneering work in sustainable engineering,
igus has won “Innovation in Sustainable Motion Technology 2025” award by the UK Ports Committee.
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 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. Yet 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.
Corrosion-resistantDesigned 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.
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. Investors and regulators are demanding full transparency, and ports that fail to act risk being sidelined in the next wave of green growth. 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 and has been nominated for the “Innovation in Sustainable Motion Technology 2025” award by the UK Ports Committee.
The committee praised igus for its ability to reduce downtime and extend service life in critical port applications, supporting decarbonisation goals while delivering operational reliability and measurable cost savings. The iMSPO system stood out as a flagship example of this innovation, offering a scalable solution to one of the most pressing challenges in port sustainability.