The Port of Seattle has announced that the Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 is now equipped with shore power, following a $44 million investment.
As explained by the port, this upgrade means that all three cruise berths at the Port can now connect to the Seattle City Light grid, allowing ships to turn off their fuel-based engines while docked. This initiative is expected to significantly reduce air emissions, making Seattle one of the first ports globally to offer shore power simultaneously at all its cruise berths.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell highlighted the importance of this development for the city’s tourism and local economy, noting the positive impact on businesses and hotel occupancy. Meanwhile, Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman emphasized that the shore power installation can eliminate three tons of particulates and 10,000 tons of greenhouse gases over a full cruise season, benefiting the environment and local communities.
The Port of Seattle would like to thank the partners that made this cruise season one of our best ever, on and off the water, all of that with clean hydro power,
said Port of Seattle Executive Director, Stephen P. Metruck.
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) praised Seattle’s leadership in adopting onshore power as a key step toward the industry’s goal of net-zero emissions. By 2028, it is projected that 74% of global cruise capacity will be equipped for onshore power, despite only a small fraction of ports currently offering it.
Shore power benefits
During the 2023 GREEN4SEA Athens Forum, Theodosia Digalaki, Technical Product Manager, ERMA FIRST, shared her perspective on reducing carbon footprint with shore power. According to Digalaki, the following are some of the benefits of shore power:
- Reduction of air pollutants.
- Shore power can have a positive ROI depending on local electricity rates.
- When shore power is combined with renewable energy sources (such as solar or wind), the carbon footprint could be eliminated.
- Vibration and noise on board are eliminated, improving seafarers’ living conditions.
- Not using auxiliary engines at berth results in a longer life cycle and lower maintenance costs.
By 2028, 74% of global cruise capacity is forecast to be equipped for onshore power use, yet less than 3% of the world’s cruise ports offer this. We are grateful to the Port of Seattle for their leadership and collaboration as we celebrate this milestone
… commented Sally Andrews, VP, Strategic Communications & Public Affairs for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
As Seattle anticipates another record cruise season in 2025, the electrification of the berths is seen as a vital step in balancing economic opportunities with sustainability.
