Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8g
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
October 27, 2026
DATE : October 20, 2026
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Linda Springmann, Director of Cruise & Elliott Bay Operations
Dario Marcolin, Cruise Technical & Systems Operations Manager
Julie Yun, Capital Project Manager, Waterfront Project Management
SUBJECT: Terminal 91 West Cruise Dredging (EXP N10739) – Construction Authorization
Amount of this request:
$2,050,000
Total estimated project cost:
$3,350,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission approval of the project budget in the amount of $2,050,000 for the
construction of the Terminal 91 (T91) West Cruise Maintenance Dredge project for a total
authorization of $3,350,000, including $550,000 in Environmental Remediation Liability (ERL)
funding.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This project along with the T91 Cruise Shore Power Extension project will contribute toward
readiness to satisfy Commission Order No. 2024-08 for full shore power connectivity at the T91
West Cruise berth by 2028 Cruise season start. The maintenance dredge will be performed to a
depth of -35’ MLLW at the West Cruise berth (berths H/I/J) of Pier 91 to allow cruise vessels the
maneuverability and flexibility to connect to shore power on both port- and starboard sides. The
proposed dredging is considered an Interim Action by the Washington State Department of
Ecology under the Model Toxic Control Act (MTCA) Agreed Order No. DE24768 for the Terminal
91 Submerged Lands Cleanup Site.
JUSTIFICATION
On June 11, 2024, the Port Commission adopted Order No. 2024-08 (“shore power mandate”),
setting an accelerated timeline for all homeport cruise ships to utilize shore power at all Port
facilities by 2027. This mandate upholds the Port’s commitment to operating in an
environmentally responsible manner by reducing air pollution and GHG emissions and serves as
the driver for restoring vessel maneuverability through this maintenance dredge project. In
addition to allowing cruise vessels to maneuver and have the flexibility to connect to shore-power
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 2 of 5
Meeting Date: October 27, 2026
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
on both port- and starboard sides, the maintenance dredge to -35’MLLW will also allow for
vessels to adjust their position at the dock to accommodate bollards, gangways, shell doors,
shore power connection, and all necessary points for operation.
The west cruise berth is located within the approximately 85-acre Sediment Cleanup Unit (SCU)
of the Terminal 91 Cleanup Site, which includes both an upland area and the submerged land
area. In addition to the west berth, the SCU also includes the central and eastern berths; these
areas will not be impacted by the proposed maintenance dredging. Under MTCA Agreed Order
No. DE24768, the Port is currently conducting additional field investigations to inform the
Feasibility Study for the submerged lands, which will evaluate cleanup alternatives. Per direction
to the Port from WA State Department of Ecology in September 2025, the proposed dredging in
the west berth is considered an Interim Action under the Agreed Order.
Diversity in Contracting
Construction will be performed by utilizing an existing Major Construction Unit Price contract for
dredging construction services. No WMBE aspirational goal will be established due to the low
availability of WMBE firms in the highly specialized dredging and disposal fields.
DETAILS
Scope of Work
The following tasks will be performed on this project:
(1) Dredge approximately 3,000 CY of sediment at the main & west channel to a
maintenance dredge elevation of -35’ MLLW and dispose upland at an approved facility.
(2) Fulfill all requirements of the Final Interim Action Work Plan approved by Ecology,
including post dredge sampling and laboratory analysis, and preparing an Interim Action
Completion Report.
Since the previous Commission Authorization, the project scope no longer includes dredging of
the high spots on the pier face and will proceed with the main dredge footprint only. This is the
result of the following two considerations:
(1) The project team worked closely with the T91 Cruise Shore Power Extension project team
due to the overlapping project footprint at the T91 west cruise berth. The teams
concluded that the berth face dredging scope would present critical schedule risk to
permanent shore power delivery at T91 West Cruise berth.
(2) Based on updated bathymetry survey data, it was determined that the high spots along
the berth face do not impact standard operation. High spots and topography changes at
the west cruise berth will be monitored for change through regular survey.
Given the minimal dredge quantity previously planned at the pier face, removal of this scope did
not result in substantive impacts to the project schedule or cost.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 3 of 5
Meeting Date: October 27, 2026
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Community Outreach
This maintenance dredge project was presented at the September 2026 meeting of the
Neighbors Advisory Committee (NAC). The project team will continue to work with Port External
Relations to keep the community informed of the project’s progress and minimize construction
impacts to the extent possible.
Schedule
In addition to the approval of the MTCA Interim Action, this project is anticipated to receive all
authorization for federal and state regulatory compliance through a Nationwide Permit for
cleanup activities (NWP-38) and IAWP in October 2026. This work is subject to the 2026-2027
permitted in-water work window and will start after tribal fishery close.
Substantial completion of the maintenance dredge will be delivered in 2027, ahead of permanent
shore power extension delivery on the West Cruise berth anticipated by the start of the 2028
cruise season. The dredge work will be coordinated with ongoing shore power construction in
the 2026-2027 work window.
Activity
DORA design authorization
Design start
Commission design authorization update
Commission construction authorization
Construction start
In-use date
Cost Breakdown
This Request –
N10739 EXP
This Request –
N10851 ERL
Total Project
estimate
Design
$0
$0
$1,050,000
Construction
$2,050,000
$0
$2,300,000
Total
$2,050,000
$0
$3,350,000
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1 – Do nothing.
Cost Implications: No additional funds committed to construct the dredging project.
Pros:
(1) Preserve Port Expense funds for higher priority efforts at the Port.
Cons:
(1) T91 West Cruise berth will not be operationally ready to comply with Commission Order
No. 2024-08 (“shore power mandate”).
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 4 of 5
Meeting Date: October 27, 2026
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
(2) T91 Maintenance Dredging project will not participate in sharing mobilization and DQM
costs with the Northwest Seaport Alliance’s Terminal 30 dredging project.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2 – Fully fund construction of the T91 Cruise Dredging Project and proceed to project
completion.
Cost Implications: Additional funding of $2,050,000 in Expense funds.
Pros:
(1) Complete the dredging project thereby contributing to T91 being shore power-ready
per the Port Commission’s Order No.2024-08 “Shore power Mandate.”
(2) Complete the project in accordance with MTCA Agreed Order No. DE24768 for the
Terminal 91 Cleanup Site.
Cons:
(1) Additional funding of $2,050,000 is required.
(2) Temporary construction impacts at Pier 91.
This is the recommended alternative.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Since the updated design authorization approved February 2026, the project cost estimate has
increased to reflect the final dredge design for stability and longevity of the new channel based
on updated survey data, corresponding upland disposal quantities, as well as the additional
Dredging Quality Management (DQM) requirement imposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) as a nationwide industry best practice. Since the original design authorization approved
in September 2025 (Delegation of Responsibility & Authority “DORA” Request No. 2274-2025),
the total project cost increased beyond $2,000,000 authorization threshold and has added ERL
scope.
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary
Capital
Expense
ERL
Total
COST ESTIMATE
(N10739)
(N10851)
Original estimate
$0
$1,800,000
$0
$1,800,000
Current change
$0
$1,000,000
$550,000
$1,550,000
Revised estimate
$0
$2,800,000
$550,000
$3,350,000
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations
$0
$750,000
$550,000
$1,300,000
Current request for authorization
$0
$2,050,000
$0
$2,050,000
Total authorizations, including this request
$0
$2,800,000
$550,000
$3,350,000
Remaining amount to be authorized
$0
$0
$0
$0
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 5 of 5
Meeting Date: October 27, 2026
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
This expense project (N10739) is included within the 2027 Maritime Operating Budget and will
be funded with General Fund.
The ERL portion of the project will be funded by the Environmental Legacy Fund.
Financial Analysis and Summary
No incremental oper ating revenue or cost-savi ngs is
Project cost for analysis
$3,350,000
Business Unit (BU)
Cruise Operations
Effect on business performance
(NOI after depreciation)
No incremental operating revenue or cost-savings is
directly associated with this project.
IRR/NPV (if relevant)
N/A
CPE Impact
N/A
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
N/A
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Presentation slides
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
February 24, 2026 – Commission approved updated Design Authorization to include the
Environmental Remediation Liability (ERL) project in the amount of $250,000 for a total
authorization of $550,000 ERL and $750,000 Expense.