The Strategic Vision Plan was unanimously adopted following its presentation by lead consultant Luis Ajamil of Bermello, Ajamil & Partners. Ajamil identified near-term priorities the port should consider within the next decade related to cruise, cargo, parks and recreation, commercial development and the resurgence and growth of the space industry in the region.
The cruise sector is an important component. In fiscal 2017 Canaveral chalked up a record of more than 4.5m passenger movements, including 4.2m on multi-day cruises, which made it the world's second busiest cruise port, after Miami.
Ajamil projects that numbers could grow to 5.5m by 2020, 6m in 2022-2023, 7m in 2027-2030, 8m in 2039 and approaching 9m by 2048.
A new cruise facility, already in design, will be built at the current Cruise Terminal 3 site in the eastern part of the port and is targeted for completion in late 2019, while a second terminal would go east of that.
A third terminal, to go in the port's western cruise center, would require rehabilitating Cruise Terminal 5, which today has a short berth. To extend the slip, the roadway would need to be bowed out to the north.
Port CEO Capt. John Murray called the plan a vision document that presents various opportunities over the 30-year planning horizon, adding that not every project in the plan may become a reality.
'This is a long-term plan but an important blueprint for the port's future,' Murray said. 'Our principal focus is to ensure we have the facilities and capabilities to support our growth going forward.'
Commissioner Tom Weinberg noted each concept must meet the test of economic and environmental sustainability and will be vetted and assessed, discussed and voted on by the commission in the public forum.
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