The Port of Seattle will require every homeported cruise ship uses shore power.
The port’s commission passed the new rule requiring shore power use effective from 2027.
“In passing this order, the commission turns the port’s 2030 goal of universal shore power use into a 2027 requirement,” said Port Commissioner Fred Felleman.
“Marketing such investments should also appeal to the environmental interests of travelers who have chosen to cruise to Alaska.”
The port says it cuts cruise ship emissions at berth by about 80%.
This emission saving represents about 2,700 tons of carbon dioxide in the 2023 season, the port says.
To meet the requirement, the port is extending shore power service to Pier 66, and it will be available to cruise ships there as of summer 2024.
When this project goes operational, all of the port’s cruise berths will be shore power-enabled.
This is six years ahead of the port’s initial target.
The initiative is part of the “Green Corridor” project in collaboration with other ports in Alaska and British Columbia, Canada.
These include Vancouver and Victoria, BC.
