Massport's $100m cruise terminal investment includes shore power

Massachusetts Port Authority is investing $100m in Flynn Cruiseport Boston including $60m for shore power at two berths.

The project is expected to be completed by 2029.

Passenger count soars 29%

This comes as Boston wrapped a record cruise season with just over 480,000 passengers, a 29% increase over 2023, on 167 calls, 18 more than last year.

Massport has been planning shore power for cruise ships for some time. At an event Friday, CEO Rich Davey said this will be installed at Flynn Cruiseport's two main berths. Nearly 80% of the passenger ships currently calling at Boston are able to plug into shore power or use scrubbers to reduce harmful emissions.

'With record-breaking passenger numbers at Flynn Cruiseport, Boston is thriving like never before. As we continue to grow, adopting clean technologies becomes even more crucial for meeting our climate goals,' Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said.

Shore power will get cleaner over time

'As we continue rapidly to shift our power sector away from fossil fuels, shore power will get even cleaner over time, according to Massachussetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer.

Based on the US Environmental Protection Agency's calculator, Massport expects the following net reductions in emissions for any ship using shore power in Boston: 93% less NOx, 85% less SO2, 86% reduced PM2 (particulate matter) and 65% less CO2.

Related:Lauren Gleason is Massport's new port director

Terminal upgrades to support bigger ships

With larger ships and more passengers sailing from the Flynn Cruiseport terminal, Massport is also investing in infrastructure improvements to accommodate growth and provide a more streamlined passenger experience.

These include pier upgrades to support an additional passenger boarding bridge, new escalator and an expanded queueing area with increased seating, which will allow for better passenger flow.

Norwegian Breakaway in 2026

Norwegian Cruise Line in July announced a new, larger homeport ship, the 4,500-passenger Norwegian Breakaway, for the 2026 cruise season. It will replace the 3,200-passenger Norwegian Gem and become the largest ship turning around in Boston.

Norwegian Gem will be back in summer 2025 alongside her sister Norwegian Jewel.

'Massport has been a great partner and as a vibrant, historic town, Boston will continue to be a popular city for our guests to visit and embark on the cruise vacation of their dreams,' said Juan Kuryla, SVP port development and construction, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

Economic impact

Boston's newly announced 2024 Economic Impact Report found cruising making a $256m contribution to the region, a whopping 90% increase since 2018. More than 3,000 jobs are supported by the business, 26% more than six years ago. This spans transportation providers, restaurants, tourist attractions, hotels, airlines, souvenir shops and ship suppliers.

Holland America Line, Boston's second biggest cruise operator, is committing to source locally caught seafood from more than 60 ports globally, including Boston where the company purchases cod, haddock, Arctic char and lobsters from John Nagle & Co. for Canada/New England cruises.

2024 season details

The March to early November season included 13 maiden calls and itineraries reaching the Caribbean, Panama Canal and Central America and Iceland/Greenland from 24 cruise lines. There were a dozen three-ship days.

The Canada/New England itinerary continues to thrive, accounting for 64% of 2024 passengers, while Bermuda cruises sailed at or above capacity the entire season, making up more than 31% of total passengers.