The Port of Seattle released a Revised Request for Proposal (RFP) to short-listed proposers being evaluated as potential investment and operating partners for the proposed new cruise facility. Included in the revised RFP is new language requiring cruise vessels to be equipped with shore power and connect while at berth. In addition to shore power, the Port also included practices to require cargo handling equipment to have zero tail-pipe emissions, further participate in regional air quality planning, protect water quality by prohibiting discharges, and build sustainably. The Port could potentially announce a partner for the terminal by the second quarter of 2020.
“A key element of the Port’s clean air and climate change strategy is to ultimately have all vessels utilizing shore power at berth,” said Stephanie Jones Stebbins, Managing Director of the Maritime Division at the Port of Seattle. “The Port intends to require 100 percent of homeport cruise vessel calls at the new terminal to be shore-power capable and plug-in starting the first year of operation. We are striving to be the cleanest and greenest homeport in the nation.” Cruise vessels have been utilizing shore-power at the Port of Seattle since 2005.
Also released is the Scoping Summary, which outlines the process and comments received during the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) scoping period for the Cruise Terminal Development Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The scoping period, which included multiple public meetings and an online open house, occurred from October 23 through November 27, 2019.
The scoping process included a two-week comment extension past the typical 30-day window to ensure the public and other interested parties had adequate time to comment. The document will help the Port of Seattle establish the areas of investigation that will be included in the EIS. The report contains a detailed discussion of the EIS scoping process, a summary of the comments received during the scoping comment period, and copies of all correspondence received. For more information, visit the Terminal 46 online engagement site.
The next key milestones for the project are as follows:
- Potential announcement of a new investment and operating partner in Q2 2020
- Draft EIS publication, public comment period, public meetings and online open house in Q2/3 2020
- Final EIS publication in Q3/Q4 2020
- Commission consideration of lease Q3/Q4 2020
- New facility targeted to open, if approved, in 2023
For more information on the proposed Terminal 46 Cruise Development, please visit the project site. The Port will keep the page updated as the project moves forward.
Contact
Peter McGraw | Media Officer
(206) 787-3446 | [email protected]
