Port of Seattle Leads Nation with 2027 Shore Power Requirement for Cruises

The Port of Seattle has become the first U.S. port to mandate that all homeported cruise vessels be shore power capable and utilize it starting from the 2027 cruise season, advancing the deadline from 2030. This initiative aims to reduce environmental impact while fostering economic opportunities. Port Commissioner Fred Felleman emphasized the importance of this requirement, highlighting the investments made by both the cruise industry and the port in shore power infrastructure.

Commission President Hamdi Mohamed stressed the significance of shore power in cutting maritime emissions and ensuring vessels plug when docked. Shore power can reduce diesel emissions from cruise ships by 80% on average. In the 2023 season, this technology helped avoid 2,700 metric tons of greenhouse gases and 0.75 metric tons of diesel particulate matter emissions, equivalent to emissions from nearly 650 cars driving for a year.

The port is finalizing electrification at Pier 66, enabling shore power at all three Seattle cruise berths and achieving the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy goal six years early. The Port of Seattle is also collaborating with other ports and the cruise industry to create the world’s first cruise-focused Green Corridor from Seattle to Alaska. The port also launched a cruise dashboard to track passenger, environmental, and economic metrics, with 2023 data now available.