Port Canaveral begins cruise terminal demolition to make way for $150 million Cruise Terminal 3

Port Canaveral Chief Executive Officer John Murray says it's "a moment we have been waiting for," as demolition began on the existing Cruise Terminal 3 on the port's south side.

Demolition of this relatively small cruise terminal will make way for what will be the largest single project in the port's history: a new $150 million cruise terminal and parking garage that will open in late 2019 or early 2020. It also will be called Cruise Terminal 3.

Murray said the port has a cruise line tenant for the new terminal. An announcement of the cruise line's identity is expected next month, after final contract details are worked out.

"We didn't just decide to build it and they will come," Port Commissioner Bob Harvey said during this week's Canaveral Port Authority meeting.

In expanded comments to constituents on his Facebook page, Harvey wrote: "There has been some concern voiced over the new cruise terminal, and whether the port really needs one and how much it costs. Here is an update. The cruise line that will be utilizing the new terminal is partnering with the port on the construction costs, and the new ships they are home-basing here are too large for any of our other terminals, except Cruise Terminal 1, the other new terminal, which is controlled by Royal Caribbean."  

Murray said the cruise line involved in the Cruise Terminal 3 deal is studying issues related to federal tax law changes before it finalizes wording on its deal with the port.

But Murray said there are no problems with the deal, which has been in the works for more than a year.

Murray told port commissioners that there is a "definitive agreement" in place, and "we're definitely targeting next month" to sign the final paperwork and make a public announcement.

"The new, high-tech, fully modernized cruise terminal will enhance our ability to welcome some of the largest and most advanced cruise ships in the world,” Murray said in a statement. “The cruise industry is projected to grow significantly over the next several years and, with this new terminal, our port is well-positioned to keep pace with that growth.”

The new terminal will be east of the port's Cove area and west of Jetty Park.

Murray said the construction project will span 20 months, with five contracts, four of which are still to be awarded. They include:

• Demolition of the existing terminal complex, which will cost $210,000 and be completed by July. This was the port's oldest cruise terminal. Melbourne-based Frank-Lin Services of Brevard won that contract. Its bid was the lowest of the bids from 14 companies seeking the contract.

• Berth demolition, dredging and waterside construction.

• Construction of passenger boarding bridges.

• Construction of a two-story, 188,000-square-foot terminal, with related site work.

• Construction of an adjacent 1,800-space parking garage.

Contracts for the various components of the project will be awarded between May and August. 

Murray said the new terminal complex will be able to accommodate up to 6,500 cruise passengers.

"Port Canaveral continues to experience growth in all sectors, and particularly in our cruise business," Murray said. "It's important that we continuously invest in our capabilities and grow our capacity to ensure we support the needs of our cruise partners today and remain well-positioned to meet their demands of tomorrow.”

Murray said the terminal will incorporate design and technology features to facilitate U.S. Customs and Border Protection screenings of arriving passengers and check-in of passengers boarding the ship.

Bill Crowe, Port Canaveral's senior director of facilities, construction and engineering, said design work for the cruise terminal project is about 60 percent complete. Miami-based Bermello Ajamil & Partners was selected in September to lead design work for the terminal.

Separately, the firm CH2M is doing the waterside engineering design work for the Cruise Terminal 3 project.

The old Cruise Terminal 3 previously was used for cruise ships that made "port-of-call" stops at Port Canaveral.

Port Canaveral is the world's second-busiest cruise port, behind the Port of Miami.

Four cruise lines base ships at Port Canaveral — Carnival, Disney, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean. Other cruise lines also make port-of-call stops there.

About 58 percent of Port Canaveral's revenue comes from cruise ships and an additional 19 percent from cruise ship parking.

Dave Berman is the government editor at FLORIDA TODAY. 

Contact Berman at 321-242-3649

or dberman@floridatoday.com. 

Twitter: @bydaveberman.

Facebook: /dave.berman.54