The Port of Seward, Alaska, a significant cruise destination on the Kenai Peninsula, recently secured a US$45.7 million Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant for the development of a shore power and battery storage system aimed at reducing cruise ship emissions. Awarded through the EPA’s Clean Ports Program, this funding is dedicated to enabling cruise ships docking at Seward to operate on electric power instead of diesel, effectively cutting air pollution during port calls.
As part of a broader redevelopment, the shore power system will be integrated into a new cruise facility slated for completion in 2026. This updated infrastructure will include a floating pier to replace the existing fixed dock, designed to handle larger vessels and increased port traffic.
The Seward Company, partnering with Alaska Railroad, RCG/Royal Caribbean Group, and Turnagain Marine, is leading this project, which also incorporates a workforce development initiative centered around Seward’s Alaska Vocational Technical Center.
According to Mayor Sue McClure, the shore power project aligns with Seward’s environmental goals by cutting diesel reliance and strengthening the local electric grid’s resilience. This project places Seward in a pioneering position among North America’s sustainable ports, she noted.
While Seward is the smallest community among the 55 ports receiving Clean Ports grants this year, it is a critical gateway for Alaskan cruise tourism, especially in the summer months. Seward saw ~190,000 cruise passengers in 2023 and hosted 104 cruise ship stops between April and October 2024, with numbers expected to grow in line with Alaska’s overall cruise industry expansion.
Though Southeast Alaska hosts the majority of Alaska’s cruise shipping traffic, Seward has experienced growth in cruise travel, particularly following the post-pandemic surge.
In 2023, Alaska recorded an all-time high of 1.65 million cruise passengers, with 2024 likely to surpass that figure.
The new shore power project places Seward on track to join Juneau, Alaska’s capital, as the second Alaskan cruise destination with shore-based power infrastructure. Such systems are already in place at numerous major ports along the U.S. West Coast and internationally, supporting the transition to greener maritime operations.