The Port of Seattle (Washington) has become the first seaport in the United States to mandate shore-power usage for all homeported cruise ships. This new regulation, effective from the 2027 season, positions Seattle ahead of its climate plan by 3 years and follows California’s statewide rule, though Seattle is the USA's first port to independently impose such a requirement.
The port commission approved the rule on Tuesday, June 11th. Port Commissioner Fred Felleman highlighted that the accelerated timeline was made possible by substantial investments from both the cruise industry and the port. He noted that promoting these investments should attract environmentally conscious travelers cruising to Alaska.
Shore power usage significantly reduces emissions at berth by ~80%, according to the Port. During the 2023 season, this reduction amounted to ~2700 tonnes of CO2 saved.
To facilitate this, the port is extending shore power service to Pier 66, which will be available to cruise ships by this summer. With this expansion, all of the port's cruise berths will be shore power-capable, achieving this milestone 6 years ahead of schedule.
The shore power initiative is a key component of Seattle's "Green Corridor" project, in collaboration with partner seaports in British Columbia and Alaska. All Seattle-based ships cruise through the Inside Passage to Southeast Alaska, making the route suitable for sustainable fuel infrastructure.