The Port of Seattle is on its way to becoming the greenest port in North America, with a goal to phase out seaport-related emissions by 2050. The cruise industry is a significant economic driver in the region, contributing 5,500 jobs and nearly $900 million each year in local business revenue. As the cruise industry grows locally, the Port recognizes its responsibility and the importance of balancing economic growth with sustainability.
The Port of Seattle is using shore power as a key environmental strategy to eliminate climate and air emissions from cruise ships while at berth in Seattle. Each time a cruise ship docks in Seattle, it takes an average of 10 hours to offload guests, load provisions, welcome new guests, and prepare for its next departure. While the ships are at berth, they still need energy to run lights, chill food, operate equipment, and power a myriad of other onboard services. A shore power connection allows cruise ships to plug into clean, landside electrical power, and turn off diesel engines while at berth. As a result, each ship that plugs in can reduce diesel emissions by 80 percent and CO2 emissions by 66 percent on average.
The Port of Seattle has two shore power connected berths at the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91, and a project is underway install a shore power connections at the Pier 66 cruise berth when ready for use in 2024.
Today, port agreements that allow cruise ships to berth at Port of Seattle terminals require shore power capable ships to use shore power when a connection is available. The Port has also set a goal to have 100 percent of home port cruise ships in Seattle equipped with shore power capability and connect on every call by 2030 or sooner.
2022 Shore Power Highlights
- 100% of ships at Pier 91 from Holland America Line and Princess Cruises are equipped with shore power
- 23% of sailings plugged into shore power (69 of 295)
- Shore power avoided 2,000 metric tons of GHG and 0.6 metric tons diesel particulate matter
- At Pier 91, a ship connected to shore power eliminates the emissions equivalent of an average car driving round trip from Seattle to New York 30 times
- In 2022, 50% of calls at Pier 66 were equipped with shore power. Once complete, shore power at Pier 66 is expected eliminate an estimated 3,000 metric tons of CO2 when home port ships connect to landside electrical power.
2023 Cruise Season Preview
- 289 cruise ship calls (275 calls by homeport cruise ships, 14 calls by in-transit cruise ships)
- 2 of 3 Port of Seattle cruise berths offer shore power
- 38% (111/289) of total sailings expected to plug into shore power
Partnering with the Cruise Industry to Phase Out Air Pollution and Address Climate Change
Century Agenda Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets
Port Controlled: 50% reduction by 2030 (from 2005), net zero or better by 2040
Port Influenced: 50% reduction by 2030 (from 2007), carbon neutral or better 2050
2020 Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy Commitments
VISION: Phase out emissions from seaport-related activities by 2050, supporting cleaner air for our local communities and fulfilling our responsibility to help limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
OBJECTIVES: By 2030, install shore power to all major cruise and container berths
Cruise is a Key Regional Industry
Seattle’s cruise industry is a major economic driver for the region, providing:
- Over 5,500 jobs
- Over $900 million into the region’s economy each season
- Each home port ship call contributes $4.2 million to the state’s economy every time it docks
- The average cruise party of 3.4 people spends $660 in Seattle during their cruise visit, boosting local businesses
