03/14/2026
New 2027 cruise ship tariffs will help fund Portland Waterfront improvements
PORTLAND, Maine — The City of Portland plans to implement increased tariff fees on Jan. 1, 2027 to fund current and future improvements to the Port of Portland's waterfront facilities, according to city officials.
The new rates are included in the Port of Portland's Tariff 11, which will replace Tariff 10 in 2027. The tariff rates, rules, and regulations apply to the two city-owned facilities at the Portland Ocean Terminal, Maine State Pier, and Ocean Gateway Terminal.
The new rate structure offers a discount to promote the use of low-sulphur fuels while ships are docked, officials said.
Tariff 11 includes significant annual increases in per-passenger fees, rising from the current $18 to $24 by 2030. The city is also increasing the existing $3 per passenger infrastructure fee annually, which will rise to $7 by 2030.
The city of Portland is also hoping to minimize the use of heavy fuel oil and the exhaust gas-cleaning systems required to clean heavy fuel oil (HFO) emissions. They're offering a discount in Tariff 11 to motivate cruise ships to switch to low-sulfur fuels that meet International Maritime Organization standards.
Ships that use fuels 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,” City Manager Danielle West said. “We're optimistic that adding these discounted rates will help us move toward that goal."
Portland's Sustainability and Transportation Committee has discussed eliminating the discharge of washer water into the Portland Harbor. This initiative is included in the 2026 Work Plan to reduce harmful pollutants from ships' exhaust systems.
“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,” City Councilor Regina Phillips said.
“These changes will help fund our working waterfront while incentivizing cruise ships to keep Casco Bay clean,” District 2 City Councilor Wes Pelletier said.
