The Port of Seattle will be the first port in the United States to require that all cruise ships homeported in Seattle have shore power capabilities and utlize shore power. The mandate, passed by the Port of Seattle Commission on June 11, 2024, goes into effect in 2027 which is three years before the port’s initial goal of 2030.
“Ensuring all homeported cruise ships utilize shore power by incorporating a requirement in our commercial agreements, the Port continues to demonstrate how we can generate economic opportunities while minimizing our impact on communities and the climate,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman, who sponsored the order.
“In passing this order, the Commission turns the Port’s 2030 goal of universal shore power use into a 2027 requirement, which is only possible due to the significant investments made by the cruise industry and the Port on both the ships and shoreside facilities.”
He added, “Marketing such investments should also appeal to the environmental interests of travelers who have chosen to cruise to Alaska.”
“Given our sustained investments in shore power, we must ensure that homeported vessels plug in when they are berthed at our piers,” said Port of Seattle Commission President Hamdi Mohamed, who co-sponsored the order. “This order is a robust policy that demonstrates our commitment to accountability and oversight of this sustainability strategy.”
Cruise lines that currently sail out of Seattle to visit Alaska include Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean International, and Seabourn from Pier 91, while Norwegian Cruise Line and Oceania Cruises sail from Pier 66.
Since 2004, the Port of Seattle has offered two shore power connections at Pier 91. The Port is currently expanding to add shore power to Pier 66 with plans to connect ships to shore power before the end of the 2024 season. This achieves the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy goal to electrify all cruise berths by 2030–six years early–and makes Seattle one of the first cruise ports to offer shore power at all of its berths.