PORTLAND, Maine — The City of Portland will increase cruise ship tariff fees beginning January 1, 2027, under a new rate structure aimed at funding waterfront improvements and encouraging the use of cleaner fuels while ships are docked in the city.
The new rates are outlined in the City’s Tariff 11, which will replace Tariff 10 in 2027. The tariff rates, rules, and regulations apply to the City-owned cruise ship facilities at the Portland Ocean Terminal at the Maine State Pier and the Ocean Gateway Terminal.
Under Tariff 11, the per-passenger fee will increase annually through 2030, rising from the current $18 per passenger to $24 per passenger by the end of the decade. The City is also increasing the existing $3-per-passenger infrastructure fee each year, which will rise to $7 by 2030. According to city officials, those infrastructure fees are intended to help pay for current and future improvements to Portland’s waterfront facilities.
The updated tariff also includes an incentive designed to reduce the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) while ships are docked in Portland Harbor. Ships that use low-sulphur fuels that comply with International Maritime Organization standards, such as Marine Gas Oil, while at berth will receive a $2 discount per passenger.
“We took seriously the feedback we received from the City Council’s Sustainability & Transportation (S&T) Committee and the public, that it was important to find a way to encourage ships to use low sulphur fuels while they’re at berth,” said City Manager Danielle West. “We’re optimistic that adding these discounted rates will help us move toward that goal.”
The Sustainability & Transportation Committee has been reviewing policy options to reduce the use of exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS), which are used to clean emissions from heavy fuel oil. Committee members have raised concerns about the discharge of washer water associated with those systems into Portland Harbor and have included the issue on their 2026 work plan.
“The S&T Committee has been discussing ways to eliminate the discharge of washer water into Casco Bay, and so I’m thankful these discounted rates have been added to help encourage the use of cleaner fuels,” said District 3 City Councilor Regina Phillips, chair of the committee.
District 2 City Councilor Wes Pelletier said the changes are intended to balance environmental goals with investments in the city’s waterfront infrastructure.
“These changes will help fund our working waterfront while incentivizing cruise ships to keep Casco Bay clean,” Pelletier said.
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