Pacific Cruise Ship Terminals - San Francisco Harbour Facility

Pacific Cruise Ship Terminals is an operational harbour facility located at Pier 27 on The Embarcadero in San Francisco, California. It serves as a key passenger terminal for cruise ships in the United States, handling embarkation and disembarkation of passengers and associated cargo. The facility operates under U.S. EPA VGP (Vessel General Permit) and NPDES regulations for shoreside discharges, as well as international IMO MARPOL Convention standards for waste management from cruise ships. Typical operations include passenger handling, baggage services, and coordination with cruise lines for waste reception and bunkering. As a major cruise terminal in San Francisco, the facility supports the local tourism economy and provides essential infrastructure for the cruise industry on the West Coast. Its location on the San Francisco Bay requires careful management of stormwater and waste to protect the marine environment.

The terminal is situated on the San Francisco Bay, a sensitive coastal habitat that supports diverse marine life. Cruise ship operations generate waste streams including oily bilge water, sewage, and solid waste, which must be managed under MARPOL Annexes and US EPA regulations. Stormwater runoff from the pier is controlled through NPDES permits to prevent pollution of the bay.