Juneau advances shore-power plans for two public cruise docks
Design work is underway for a project expected to cost more than $50 million.
Juneau is pursuing a project to add shore-power connections at the publicly owned Alaska Steamship Dock and Cruise Ship Terminal Dock, according to Port Director Carl Uchytil. Both facilities are north of the privately owned Franklin Street Dock, the city’s only electrified cruise berth, which is used by Princess Cruises.
Electrical engineering firm H3 Solutions of Pasadena, California, is handling the design. Uchytil said the city has an agreement with Alaska Electric Light and Power to oversee that work: Juneau pays the utility, which then pays H3 Solutions.
Uchytil estimated the initial work would cost about $2 million. He said the design process is pausing at 35% completion for review, a customary checkpoint for major projects. Although he had expected the full project to exceed $50 million, Uchytil said the preliminary design figures still surprised him. He has not publicly disclosed those figures.
Cruise Lines International Association says every cruise ship scheduled for construction over the next two years will have the capability to connect to shore power.