Spread the love
Post Views: 7
 The Port of Seattle continues its commitment to environmental sustainability by making greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction a key factor in renewing long-term cruise berthing agreements. The order, approved today by the Port of Seattle Commission, requires the Executive Director to:
  • Evaluate cruise lines’ progress toward achieving Port of Seattle (Port) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) GHG goals before renewing or extending any long-term berthing agreements
  • Publicize cruise line emission trends and emission reduction projects underway to attain GHG reduction goals
  • Include language in any long-term berthing agreements, leases, renewals, and extensions with homeported cruise lines that supports evaluation of GHG reduction plans
“The Port of Seattle is uniquely positioned to lead the global maritime industry in environmental sustainability best practices and strategies,” said Port of Seattle Commission Vice President Toshiko Hasegawa. “We are leveraging our partnerships to accelerate advancements toward our Century Agenda goals of responsibly investing in the economic growth of the region and all of its communities, and becoming the greenest and most energy-efficiency port in North America, promoting transparency of our progress for the public.”

In 2025, the Port anticipates nearly 1.8 million revenue passengers and receiving over 300 cruise calls, resulting in over $900 million dollars in economic benefit to the region. While the growth of the cruise industry will continue to provide significant economic benefits to the region, without adoption of zero- and low-carbon energy alternatives, it will also lead to an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) and other air emissions.

The Port of Seattle’s Century Agenda and Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy (NWPCAS) outlines ambitious goals to phase out emissions from all seaport-related sources by 2050. The Port’s targets are intended to address the climate crisis, build on existing reduction initiatives, and demonstrate leadership in the transition to clean energy and zero-emission port operations. The Port’s goals align with the IMO Strategy on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, which set an overall ambition for international shipping to reach net-zero GHG emissions “by or around” 2050.

The Port’s new policy is part of a broader effort to encourage maritime industry decarbonisation and to be a leader in supporting the maritime transition away from fossil fuels. In June, the Port became the first in the nation to independently require that 100% of all cruise vessels homeported in Seattle be shore-power capable and utilise shore power by 2027.

While 61% of the global cruise ship fleet is equipped to plug into shore power, only 35 ports worldwide have a connection available. However, at Port of Seattle, we have two cruise berths that are shore-power capable, with the third coming online this year at the Bell Harbor Cruise Terminal at Pier 66.

The Port continues to collaborate with cruise ports in Alaska, Victoria, BC, Vancouver, BC, and the cruise industry on the world’s first cruise-focused Green Corridor from Seattle to Alaska. This initiative explores innovative decarbonization strategies to reduce emissions along the route. Through this effort, by 2032, the Port of Seattle, other participating ports, and our cruise line partners are exploring the feasibility of having four cruise ships sailing on the corridor using green methanol as fuel. Collaborative efforts like this and others are helping Port of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest region lead the way nationally and globally toward a zero-emission maritime future.