Seattle seeks shore power partner

The Port of Seattle Commission has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the terminal at the north end of Terminal 46, while commissioners also adopted principles to ensure that a growing cruise business increases local economic benefit and maintains the port’s environmentally progressive stance.

Port of Seattle Commission president, Stephanie Bowman, said: “Our principles ensure that this new cruise terminal will expand local economic benefit, and with the addition of our third shore power berth will make Seattle the national leader in promoting clean, electric shore power for our Alaska-bound cruises.”

US$200m to build

Estimates suggest that the new facility could cost US$200m and be completed in time for the 2022 cruise season. A public-private-partnership approach to build the terminal will see the port contributing half the cost.

The Port of Seattle is the first cruise homeport in the US with two shorepower berths and may be the only cruise homeport in the US with three shorepower berths when Terminal 46 is completed.

Seattle is also the first and only cruise homeport in North America with a voluntary clean water agreement between cruise lines and regulators. Emissions from ocean-going vessels, including cruise ships entering Puget Sound, have decreased by more than 67% over the last 10 years, according to the port.