Using Shore Power in Seattle
Seattle wants a common sense, greener alternative to the planned cruise ship terminal. We need enforceable policies that encourage business development alongside historical preservation and environmental protection.
cruise ship, cruise ship pollution, tourism, seattle, historic preservation, pier 46, port of seattle, cruise ship terminal, seattle cruise ship terminal, pioneer square, seattle cruises, alaskan cruises, alaska cruise, environment, protect, carbon, puget sound, stop cruise ships
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27 Oct Using Shore Power in Seattle

Posted at 22:36h in human health, shore power by
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The Port of Seattle deserves praise for bringing shore power to all existing and planned cruise ship terminals. By using the city’s electricity, the cruise lines can stop using heavy bunker fuel to power the ships while berthed. This cuts the toxic emissions, thereby cutting risk of cancer, childhood asthma, and a host of other health problems. Using cleaner energy also cuts greenhouse gasses.

This is important: not all ships that dock in Seattle have the capability to plug into shore power.

We can have the greenest port in the world, and it wouldn’t matter if a mega cruise ship is spewing carcinogens into our air right next to where people live, work, and play.

According to a 2011 investigation by C40 Cities, a non-profit organization dedicated to bold climate action, it costs $1.1 million dollars to retrofit a ship to accept shore power plug ins (it’s likely the costs are higher by today’s standards). This is a one-time cost, and cruise ship companies stand to save considerable costs because electricity in Seattle is cheaper than bunker fuel. Plus, Seattle and region get to enjoy better health and cleaner air.

Carnival Corporation, the parent company to Holland America and Princess, recorded $3.2 billion in profits last year. The one-time cost of retrofitting a ship is less than half of one percent of their annual profit margin. 

The Port of Seattle can institute a policy that requires all ships to plug into shore power. That’s good for the air, for human health, for Seattle. The only viable reason not to do it is because a big corporation wants to put profits over people and environment.