by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
With progress being made on a new cargo terminal for Hanjin Shipping Company and on the Mile Point project, the Jacksonville Port Authority will focus on finding a permanent home for its cruise ship terminal.
The residents of Mayport, where the authority owns property considered one of the terminal sites, are ready to continue talks.
Attorney Warren Anderson Jr. was the only person to speak during the public comment portion of the authority’s board of directors meeting Wednesday at the temporary cruise ship terminal at Dames Point.
Anderson represented the Public Trust Environmental Legal Institute, which represents the Mayport Village Civic Association Inc.
The association earlier filed a complaint against the Jacksonville Port Authority and the City of Jacksonville in regard to Sunshine Law violations in the purchase of property at Mayport.
“The litigation that is currently in place is on pause waiting to see what happens here. We want you to know that we have a legal team that is dedicated to do everything possible to protect the unique environmental and historical character of Mayport Village and the surrounding area,” said Anderson.
“We believe the port has many other options than putting a cruise ship terminal in Mayport Village. We are willing to work with you on that,” he said.
The port authority is conducting a feasibility study to find a location for a permanent cruise ship terminal after receiving vocal opposition from citizens of Mayport who opposed locating the terminal in Mayport Village.
“We feel a cruise ship terminal would be disastrous to Mayport Village and the environment,” said Anderson.
The board discussed moving forward with the project by setting up meetings with Carnival Cruise Lines and the Mayport community.
“I appreciate Mr. Anderson’s comments and look forward to discussing the cruise terminal with the people of Mayport,” said David Kulik, board chair.
“But first things first, we have to talk to Halcrow (engineering) to find out how long we can operate out of the temporary terminal and then with Carnival to find out what their plans are.”
At the board’s March meeting it authorized port authority management to research and provide information regarding the future potential and impact of the cruise business in Jacksonville.
The port reported that more than 185,000 passengers, a record, traveled through the cruise terminal to take 78 voyages aboard the Carnival Fascination in 2009.
The authority has stated that it is necessary to find another terminal site because ships have to sail beneath the JEA power lines and the Dames Point Bridge.
The clearance beneath the bridge and power lines is 174 feet and more than 80 percent of the newest cruise ships cannot get to the terminal because they exceed that height. The newer ships must call at a terminal without height restrictions.
The clock is also ticking on turning the temporary cruise ship site back into a cargo terminal by 2014 for use by Hanjin Shipping Company.
The board also gave approval for port authority management to begin negotiations with Halcrow Inc. to provide professional consultant and design services for construction of Dames Point Container Terminal No. 2, to be used by Hanjin.
The project had been delayed for about a year due to labor negotiations, but an agreement was recently reached between Hanjin and the International Longshoremen’s Association and the project was allowed to continue. CH2M HILL and Moffatt & Nichol were also considered for the contract.
Another sizable project received a green light as the board approved HDR Engineering to supply engineering design services and engineering support during construction for the rehabilitation of wharf structures at Blount Island Marine Terminal berths 30-35.
The port was able to fund the nearly $2 million project by prioritizing infrastructure needs and delaying projects that could be held off. Chief Financial Officer Michael Poole will begin to pursue financing for the construction part of the project.
The port plans to conduct the project in phases to provide uninterrupted service to its tenants.
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