Portland Council to Weigh Cruise Scrubber Ban
The City Council takes up a resolution Monday that would bar cruise ships from using scrubbers and discharging scrubber wash at city-owned piers.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Cruises
Live Poll
Should Portland ban cruise ships from discharging scrubber wash into Casco Bay?
Portland City Council will consider a resolution on Monday recommending a ban on cruise ship scrubber use and scrubber wash discharge at city-owned piers. The resolution, forwarded by councilors Regina Phillips and Pious Ali, would ask city staff to amend Portland's tariff structure.
Why it matters
Open-loop scrubbers discharge wash water that the resolution says threatens Portland's coastal ecosystem, and environmental advocates point to acidic pollutants harmful to marine wildlife. Portland would become the first port in Maine to ban scrubber use if the resolution is approved.
The city estimates 32 million gallons of scrubber wash water would be kept out of Casco Bay each season under the proposed tariff change, which would affect about 85 ships scheduled to dock in 2026. Whether the Council approves the resolution and how the tariff would be amended remains unresolved.
The players
Portland City Council
The municipal legislative body of Portland, Maine, which will consider the scrubber ban resolution.
Portland Cruise Control
A local advocacy group that has pushed for a cruise ship scrubber ban in Portland for two years.
The details
The resolution would ban cruise ships from using scrubbers or discharging scrubber wash water while berthed at city-owned piers. Open-loop scrubbers use seawater to wash exhaust gases before discharging the wash water, and Portland Cruise Control has advocated for the ban for two years. Seattle already bans scrubber wash at berth through its port tariff.
Timeline
Monday: City Council considers the scrubber ban resolution.
Spring 2026: City staff proposed a tariff with a $2 per passenger discount for low-sulfur fuel users.
2026: Roughly 85 ships are scheduled to dock in Portland harbor.
Seasonal Patterns
Portland's proposal follows the port-tariff approach Seattle already uses to restrict scrubber wash at berth, extending that model to a Maine port. The seasonal volume of about 85 scheduled ship dockings frames the scale of wash discharge at stake.
Travelers booking Portland cruise departures may see changes to port operations if the tariff amendment is adopted. Those planning around Casco Bay visits should check with cruise lines about scrubber and fuel practices at berth.
The takeaway
Portland's vote shows how port tariffs can be used to limit ship emissions discharge at the local level. Its outcome will indicate whether other Maine ports follow the same approach.
What happens next
The City Council is scheduled to consider the scrubber ban resolution on Monday.
Further reading
For more on cruise schedules and port policy, see Cruises coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Portland Press Herald.
Live Poll
Should Portland ban cruise ships from discharging scrubber wash into Casco Bay?
