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$17.2m to modernize, expand Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

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NYCEDC officials and Brooklyn Borough president Eric L. Adams tour Regal Princess and the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. The check denotes Brooklyn's $2.2m commitment to the terminal's expansion and modernization
New York City's Brooklyn Cruise Terminal will be expanded and modernized to handle larger, newer ships and improve connectivity.

The $17.2m project consists of a $1.2m capital allocation in fiscal 2016 with an additional $1m grant in fiscal 2017 by Brooklyn Borough president Eric L. Adams. The terminal’s new operator, Ports America, will contribute $15m.

Ports America and the New York City Economic Development Corp. will use this funding to construct a new apron up to 500 feet long, a passenger viaduct and two new gangways. The investments also allow for the design and implementation of a multifunctional, high-capacity wireless network at the terminal to improve the passenger experience and operating efficiency.

In May NYCEDC announced the selection of Ports America to operate both the Manhattan and Brooklyn cruise terminals through 2029. Ports America agreed to invest $38.5m in capital improvements across both terminals.

NYCEDC said the designation of a single terminal operator will lower costs and streamline operations, which will create new opportunities to secure long-term agreements with cruise lines. Ports America has managed and operated the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in partnership with the NYCEDC for two decades, generating substantial growth in cruise volumes.

NYCEDC officials and Adams toured the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal and Regal Princess Friday to celebrate the new capital investments and modernization plans.

'New York City’s cruise industry is a critical piece of South Brooklyn’s economy and the city’s efforts to build a vibrant working waterfront,' NYCEDC president James Patchett said. He expressed gratitude to Adams and Ports America for the funding, which will allow the terminal’s role to be expanded as an economic engine for the community.

'I am excited that the $2.2 million in capital grants that my administration allotted to the modernization of the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal was able to be leveraged into an additional $15 million commitment by Ports America, which will have a tremendous impact on attracting more ships, revamping operations and creating quality maritime jobs,' Adams said. 'This long-awaited project will help us attract additional tourism to Red Hook and throughout the borough, as we showcase all that Brooklyn has to offer through new wayfinding initiatives.'

Adams thanked the International Longshoremen's Association, local stakeholders and NYCEDC for their continued partnership in this venture.

'Ports America is excited about the future of the cruise industry in Brooklyn,' said Steve Loevsky, VP cruise. 'We believe that these investments will increase vessel calls and passenger volumes, while enhancing the overall guest experience, asset utilization and safety. Ports America looks forward to our continued partnership with NYCEDC and our cruise line partners to provide a world-class facility at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.'

Adams and Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration have been committed to keeping Brooklyn’s waterfront a center for economic growth and employment, according to Louis Pernice, president, ILA Local 1814. 'This public-private partnership will provide the capital commitment needed to bring larger ships and more jobs to Brooklyn. This investment will help unleash the tremendous value our waterfront provides to our city,' Pernice said.

In 2016, more than a million passengers cruised through New York City, and the industry accounts for hundreds of millions of dollars in annual economic impact. The cruise business is also an important piece of South Brooklyn’s industrial sector, and accounts for more than 1,000 full-time jobs through the ILA, the Port Police and Guard Union, and employees in accommodation, retail and food and beverage sectors.

In order to help expand the reach of these opportunities, NYCEDC hosted the first Maritime Career Awareness Fair at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, which connected more than 150 students from high schools around the city with two dozen organizations including colleges, labor unions, ferry and excursion boat operators, major trade associations, the Coast Guard and the New York City police and fire departments.