Canada
Alaska
SEATTLE
USA
VANCOUVER
Home Port
Port of Call
Victoria
Juneau
Haines
Skagway
Sitka
Exploring a Green Corridor for Cruise
from the Pacific Northwest to Alaska
AAPA Environment Committee
July 19, 2023
Ryann Child
Environmental Program Manager, Port of Seattle (She/Her)
1
2
4
th
Largest
Cargo
Gateway in
the U.S.
Northwest Seaport Alliance
10
th
Busiest
Airport in
North
America
Seattle-Tacoma Airport
Largest
Cruise Port
on the U.S.
West Coast
Cruise Seattle
Home of the
U.S. North
Pacific
Fishing Fleet
Commercial Fishing
PORT OF SEATTLE
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Area Jobs
121,100
Capital Project Plan (’20-’24)
$4.4 Billion
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
SEA Airport
$22.5 Billion
Maritime Industry
$18.6 Billion
BELL STREET
CRUISE TERMINAL
Pier 66
SMITH COVE
CRUISE TERMINAL
Terminal 91
3
4
Toward the Greenest and Most Energy Efficient
Port in North America
GHG REDUCTION TARGETS
Port
Controlled
(scope 1, 2)
50% reduction by 2030
Net Zero by 2040
Port
Influenced
(scope 3)
50% reduction by 2030
Carbon Neutral by
2050
5
53,625
20,815
4,544
Cruise ships
Other Maritime Industry*
Port Administration: Fleet Fuel, Building Energy,
Solid Waste, Commuting
Metric Tons GHG
Port of Seattle Maritime-Related GHG Emissions
The Challenge
*Not including marine cargo, managed separately
by the Northwest Seaport Alliance
6
The Opportunity
Canada
Alaska
SEATTLE
USA
VANCOUVER
Home Port
Port of Call
Victoria
Juneau
Haines
Skagway
Sitka
The Pacific Northwest to Alaska
Green Corridor Project
8
What is a Green Corridor?
A shipping route where
low and zero greenhouse
gas emission solutions
are demonstrated and
supported through
collaboration across
sectors to accelerate
maritime decarbonization
Image Source: Annual Progress Report on Green Shipping Corridors, 2022
(Global Maritime Forum & Getting to Zero Coalition, Nov 2022)
Considerations for a
Green Cruise Corridor
High energy loads
Seasonality requires other fuel users
9
Passenger safety and experience
Different Port sizes and resources
Progress and Next Steps
10
Convene
Partnership
Establish Project
Charter
Scope Study and
Secure Support
Complete Feasibility
Study
Strategic Planning &
Implementation
Kickoff June
2022
Signed March
2023
Expected June
– Oct 2023
Phase 1 by
mid-2024
To be determined
by Phase 1
11
Thank you!
Ryann Child, child.r@portseattle.org
Subscribe to our Green Corridor Newsletter:
bit.ly/PNW2AK
www.portseattle.org
Alaska Context and Port
Decarbonization Efforts by City and
Borough of Juneau
Alexandra Pierce, Tourism Manager
July 19, 2023
Juneau and Alaska Ports
• Ports of call – typically do not bunker fuel for cruise and
other large vessels
• Remote areas – many ports do not currently have capacity
for shore power
• Seasonal industry – Juneau will see nearly 1.7 million
visitors between April and October 2023
• Impacts from shore excursions beyond scope of Green
Corridor effort – buses, aircraft, small vessels
• Juneau is the largest port in the region (size and visitation)
with 32,000 residents
Decarbonization Efforts in Juneau
• First port in the world to install shore power for cruise ships (2001)
• Shore power to two additional berths underway
• Partnering with Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to
monitor ship emissions and supports enforcement of violations
• Negotiated an agreement setting a limit of five large cruise ships per
day effective in 2024
• Negotiated an agreement with cruise industry to stop offloading
garbage to the Juneau landfill and to divert waste to ports with more
recycling capacity and less carbon intensive disposal
Christine Rigby
Manager, Climate Action and Air Quality
July 19, 2023
Phasing out emissions:
The role for green corridors
Growing demand + lack of supporting policies/regulations
• Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy
• Climate and Air Quality Action Plan
• EcoAction Program + Blue Circle Award
• Shore power
• Non-Road Diesel Emissions Program
• Drayage truck emission requirements
• Low Emission Technology Initiative
• Pacific Northwest to Alaska Green Corridor
• Energy Action Initiative
• Air monitoring
• International collaborations
Well-rounded approach
19
