Port commissioners approved the $1.2m funding for CH2M's project management contract at their June 7 meeting, taking the first step in a two-year work plan to build a facility able to serve cruise ships with up to 8,000 passengers. The new terminal will replace one of port's oldest cruise terminals, currently being used for single-day transit calls.
It is the easternmost terminal at the port, close to Jetty Park and other public facilities.
'Port Canaveral continues to experience growth in all sectors, and particularly in our cruise business,' CEO Capt. John Murray said. 'With 80% of our revenue from cruise operations, it's important that we continuously improve our capabilities to meet the current and future needs some of the world's largest, most sophisticated cruise ships.'
CH2M will assist the Canaveral Port Authority in securing permits from various state and local agencies including the Army Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The port's investment of $150m into the terminal will support an estimated nearly 4,000 permanent jobs, in coordination with Canaveral's overall modernization and improvement plans, including channel widening and deepening, and repairs and improvements to cargo piers.
The Canaveral Port Authority has invested $195m over the last few years in cruise terminal infrastructure, while adhering to its charter commitment to provide community access to the port's parks and recreation facilities.
'The popularity and avid use of the port's Jetty Park recreation facilities adjacent to the CT-3 terminal, especially the public boat ramps and fishing areas, are very important to the port,' Murray said.
Commissioners have directed that engineering staff make continued public access to these areas a priority, and to ensure before, during and after construction that boat parking is minimally impacted.
According to Murray, the new cruise terminal plans require that whatever parking area may be encumbered during construction will be replaced one-for-one. 'The net loss of any parking in that area will be negligible,' he said.
Down the road it may be necessary to reconfigure some current parking spaces and set temporary limits for day parking at Jetty Park to accommodate construction equipment and crews.
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