Portland City Council Could Deliberate on Cruise Ship Scrubber Wash Ban

The Portland City Council is set to deliberate on a resolution this Monday that could fundamentally change how cruise ships operate in Maine waters.

If passed, Portland would become the first port in Maine to ban ships from using exhaust gas cleaning systems—commonly known as scrubbers—or discharging wash water from these systems while docked at city-owned piers.

This proposal, forwarded by councilors Regina Phillips and Pious Ali, aims to address long-standing concerns regarding the environmental health of Casco Bay. According to the resolution, the measure would require city staff to amend Portland’s tariff structure, effectively prohibiting the discharge of what environmental advocates describe as acidic pollutants harmful to marine life.

The debate highlights a tension between the city’s cruise ship industry and its coastal preservation goals. A total of roughly 85 vessels—with certain ones making multiple visits—were lined up to arrive at Portland harbor in 2026. Supporters of the ban, including Portland Cruise Control, argue that the environmental cost of these visits has been overlooked for too long.

“Cruise ships shouldn’t be allowed to turn their air pollution into our water pollution.”

said JoAnn Locktov, co-founder of Portland Cruise Control. Speaking on Wednesday, Locktov said that the measure would stop roughly 32 million gallons of hazardous scrubber wash water from being discharged into Casco Bay annually.

The industry standard for many vessels involves open-loop scrubbers, which pull seawater to wash exhaust gases before discharging the resulting, often untreated, water back into the harbor. While some cruise operators have transitioned to closed-loop or hybrid systems that retain water in holding tanks, others continue to rely on the open-loop method.

There is a precedent for this type of regulation in other major ports. Pointing to Seattle, Locktov said that the city prohibits scrubber wash at its docks via port tariff and recently experienced its most successful cruise season to date.

The push for a ban follows a failed attempt earlier this year to incentivize cleaner fuel usage. City staff had proposed a $2 per passenger discount for ships opting for low-sulfur marine gas oil, but the measure stalled during budget discussions due to opposition from environmental groups and several councilors who preferred a more direct regulatory approach.

Councilor Wes Pelletier, who moved to remove the discount, said he is looking for a more permanent solution. He believes that requiring ships to switch fuels or use closed-loop systems is a manageable expectation for the industry.

“It’s something that’s doable and keeps Casco Bay cleaner, and I’m happy to see us getting to a place where it’s on the tariff.”

Pelletier said Wednesday.

The resolution asserts that such a mandate would not disrupt maritime trade or port competitiveness, citing the success of similar bans implemented in other jurisdictions. As the council prepares to vote, the decision rests on whether members view the current environmental data as a sufficient mandate for immediate policy change.

For Portland, the stakes involve balancing the economic influx of tourism with the long-term ecological integrity of the bay. The outcome on Monday will determine if the city becomes the first in Maine to formally regulate these discharges.