Port of Seattle completes shore power project at all cruise berths

The Port of Seattle has completed the shore power project at Pier 66, as part of the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy goal of electrifying all Seattle cruise berths. 

In June 2023, the Port of Seattle became the first port in the U.S. to independently require that 100% of all cruise vessels homeported in Seattle be shore power capable and utilize shore power by 2027, three years before the port’s previous goal of 2030. 

Shore power means clean electricity can power cruise ships while they are docked in Seattle, improving air quality and reducing emissions for the community and across the Puget Sound region.

According to the port, in the 2023 season, ships using shore power avoided emitting 2,700 metric tons of greenhouse gases and 0.75 metric tons of diesel particulate matter. On average, shore power enables each connected ship to reduce its diesel emissions by 80% and CO₂ emissions by 66% while at berth, the Port of Seattle highlighted.

In 2021, the Seattle Port adopted near-term implementation plans to identify, prioritize, and focus resources on actions that help achieve their collective zero-emission vision.

Thanks to a $44 million investment, all three of the port’s cruise berths are now equipped with shore power. The technology allows cruise ships to plug into the Seattle City Light grid and turn off their fuel-based engines, which is expected to result in a significant reduction in air emissions. Moreover, Seattle is one of the first cruise ports to offer shore power for simultaneous use at all its multiple berths.

“With the installation of shore power at Pier 66, I’m proud to say Seattle is one of the only ports globally able to simultaneously power three cruise ships with low-carbon electricity,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman.

“Enabling three cruise ships to turn off their generators while at dock has the potential to eliminate three tons of particulates and 10,000 tons of greenhouse gases over a full cruise season, which benefits the climate, communities, and economy.”

“We especially thank the City of Seattle and Seattle City Light who are helping us electrify the working waterfront and create a more sustainable future for our region. Additionally, the Port thanks our partners in the cruise industry for the significant investments they are making in more sustainable ships and shoreside facilities that are critical to all of our environmental strategies,” added Port of Seattle Executive Director Stephen P. Metruck.

“Electrifying Pier 66 delivers on City Light’s strategic vision to create a clean energy future for the region. We are proud be working with such amazing partners like the Port of Seattle to make shore power connections a reality for along Seattle’s bustling waterfront and ports,” commented Dawn Lindell, Seattle City Light General Manager and CEO.

“By connecting ships into our clean, carbon-neutral power, we are reducing harmful emissions from diesel engines and improving air quality for the people who visit, work, and live in Seattle.”

Jayne Stevenson, State Climate Policy Manager for Pacific Environment, stated that ocean-going vessels, including cruise ships, are the leading maritime polluters in the Puget Sound area.

She expressed support for the call for the state of Washington to implement a statewide shore power policy to reduce air pollution from all ocean-going vessels at the ports and to protect the health and well-being of portside communities.