But nada to connect ships to power and cut pollution
Miami-Dade Commissioners will be asked on Wednesday to approve the design, construction, finance, operation, management and maintenance of a new terminal complex at PortMiami estimated to cost taxpayers at least $381 million over half of a 62-year lease with MSC Cruises.
In the middle of the COVID19 pandemic. For a cruise industry gripped by the economic crisis. With less opportunity for public participation.
The county is supposed to pay $177.2 million for the construction, $20 million for the an additional berth if the need arises, and $183.8 million over the next 30 years. Oh, and 50% of any unexpected costs over $5 mil.
Estimated revenue in lease payments over the course of the lease is $2 trillion and the economic benefit ripple effect is $43 billion, supporters say.
But were these figures from before or after the port was shut down in March of last year?
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Bill Talbert, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Visitors and Convention Bureau, and Christopher Hotchkins, CEO of the Miami Tunnel, urged the county’s PortMiami and Environmental Sustainability Committee last week to move this forward to the full board of commissioners.
“As you know PortMiami is the cruise capitol of the world,” Talbert said. “Infrastructure investments are critical going forward to keep that positioning.
“Lets get more jobs, jobs jobs!”
The $577 million project is expected to create 1,500 temporary construction jobs and then more than 8,600 permanent jobs from operations.
PortMiami Director Juan Kuryla said the project will help position the port for future growth.
“This first-of-its-kind, state-of-the-arts shared facility will be the first in the United States that will be able to accommodate three ships at a time from two different lines,” he said.
If it’s so state-of-the-art, why did they skimp on the shore power hook-ups? These can cut carbon emissions by a third and toxic sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide gases emitted into our downtown air while the cruise ships idle in place, according to a Miami Herald story.
The ships have been retrofitted and use shore power at other ports. But there is no plan to build shore power hookup stations at any of the new terminals being built or improved by the county.
Not at the new Royal Caribbean International terminal opened in 2019. Not at the one under construction for Norweigan Cruise Lines. Not the new terminal being built by Virgin Voyages. It’s not even part of the $120 million “modernization” of Terminal F for Carnival Cruise Line.
The Herald story said these shore power hookups would cost $20 million a pop, which seems like a drop in the $2 trillion bucket. Committee Chair Rebeca Sosa said we can take care of that later, after the cruise industry recovers from the COVID19 pandemic-induced economic crisis.
The committee meeting lasted a whole 24 minutes. But that’s only because Hotchkins took several minutes to get to the podium from the lobby. And a few minutes were spent releasing a covenant on environmentally endangered land in South Dade.
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“We’re trying to move at the speed of business,” said Commissioner Oliver Gilbert behind his colorful Brito mask.
Newly-elected Mayor Daniella Levine Cava must have left her “water warrior” superhero cape at home. While she was elected partly on an environmental platform, nobody from her office raised the issue.
Also silent: the county’s new Chief Sustainability Officer Irela Bague. But Ladra wonders what she’d have to say about the lack of shore power hookups. Will she say anything on Wednesday?
Would it make any difference? PortMiami is one of the county’s sacred cows that can’t be touched. Commissioner Sosa — a regular cruise passenger before the pandemic who has always chaired the port committee — is going to be very protective.
“It’s always a pleasure to see you,” she told MSC Cruises President and CEO Richard Sasso last week, calling him “part of the family.”
Sasso, who knows a sweet deal when he sees one, said he was grateful to the staff and Kulyra for moving the project, which he’s “emotional tied” to.
“The last 10 years have seen extraordinary growth,” said Sossa, who graduated from Miami Central High in 1967 and in business port since 1972. “But what’s happened in the last 10 years, I think, is nothing compared to what can happen in 10, 20, 30, 40 and beyond.”
Is that how long we have to wait for the shore power hookups?
County to spend $381 million on new PortMiami terminals for MSC Cruises added by Ladra on
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You must track the money of these mega terminals. The Port dies not have the borrowing power without the help of big Pappa the county. For a mega terminal that will be utilized for only 5 hours. Again how many days a week, the benefit is for who again, the Port has been making awful business deals for years and no one is checking.
” What jobs are Talbert talking about, street sweeps?”
Lol .
Well as you know that is the con which is the norm here , all they have to say is that it will increase jobs .
” The cruise industry is so 1970’s. Vote No to the Graft.”
I hope they vote no as tax payer money should not be used for private business , granted it has become the norm in Miami by these assorted worthless politicos who seem to have genuine disdain for the people of Miami but I do think before the virus cruises were popular .
I’m in Doral which is often called ” transient city ” due to high turn over of home owners / residents ( real estate friend recently told me that ) lol but again before the virus the hotels were usually packed with those taking cruises and lots foreigners .
By foreigners I mean non Hispanics , lol .
I’m kidding people from other countries mostly Europe. They seem popular with European honeymooners .
Residents of the Balearics Islands consider the mooring of these cruise ships off their islands more menacing than Red Beard, and it’s the unforgiving air pollution these Galleons produce. Then they land their hold passengers on their pristine islands to trample the port area and pollute it with hamburger wrappings and ice cream cups . What jobs are Talbert talking about, street sweeps?
The cruise industry is so 1970’s. Vote No to the Graft.
Tax money being diverted to foreign owned companies again? Why can’t private companies invest in themselves? Does tax money grow on trees?
Electrical shore power does not eliminate pollution, just moves it. If it was so cost-effective FPL would build it out without any county money but the truth is the cruise ship industry is one of the most polluting businesses on the planet and not by a little but by a factor. Cruise ship pollution levels on board are higher than the worlds worst cities. Their use of heavy oil fuel is being eliminated world wide and the port needs to be fitted with LP not taxpayers subsidizing millions more to FPL for a temporary band aid or enabling the industry to paint a lipstick on its pig.