The Port of Seattle (Washington) marks a significant milestone, celebrating 25 years as a cruise homeport, with a commitment to sustaining growth through investments in shore power, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability.
Notable cruise brands have chosen Seattle as a homeport for their Alaska-bound ships, establishing the city as a prominent departure point for cruises.
Seattle's natural deepwater harbor, capable of accommodating larger vessels, has enabled the city to manage the increasing capacities of passenger ships. With its strategic location (just 770 NM from Ketchikan Alaska), Seattle is the closest major USA port to popular Alaskan destinations.
The ship cruising industry contributes significantly to the state's economy, providing ~5500 jobs and injecting US$900+ million annually. While delivering economic benefits, the Port of Seattle emphasizes environmental sustainability. Since 2005, it has been a pioneer in offering two shore power berths, reducing emissions equivalent to an average car driving between Seattle and New York 30 times when a ship connects to shore power at Pier 91. This effort has led to the elimination of 6200+ tons of CO2 emissions since 2018.
Looking ahead to 2024, a third cruise berth at Pier 66 will introduce shore power, making the Port of Seattle one of the world's first ports with three renewable shore power berths for cruise ships.