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The port of Seattle has announced that it achieved its best ever cruise season in 2010 with a record number of cruise ship calls. The data will be positive news for the local marine fuel industry and bunker sales volumes during this period.

Twelve homeported vessels and six ports of call made up the 223 dockings at the port. A total of 931,698 revenue passengers moved through the port's two cruise terminals.

"The 2010 cruise season is good economic news for our region." said Port of Seattle Commission President Bill Bryant.

A primary reason for the rise in cruise ship calls was the increase in cruises to Alaska this year. Seattle's market share of the Alaska cruise business has grown dramatically over the past decade from just six vessel calls to 223.

New developments in 2010 included Carnival Cruise Line's first venture into Seattle, offering seven-day cruises to Alaska from Smith Cove Cruise Terminal every Tuesday aboard Carnival Spirit [pictured].

In addition, Holland America Line introduced a 14-day round-trip Alaska itinerary out of Seattle this year. Princess Cruises launched a 14-day round-trip Alaska cruise in 2009.

Cruise lines that called at Seattle this year included Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity cruises.

The size of the bunker market in Seattle is currently estimated to be between 1.5 - 2.0 million tonnes per year with the majority of bunker purchases coming in the form of 'term contracts'.

Commenting on its cruise ship operations, the port of Seattle said: "The Port of Seattle and Cruise Terminals of America (CTA), which operates both cruise facilities, remain focused on efficient terminal operations that maintain vessel schedules. The Port, CTA and the cruise lines have worked hard to build successful partnerships with the community and regulatory agencies and those partnerships are key to the success of the industry in Seattle."