Port Everglades is embarking on a $54 million renovation project to transform four existing cruise terminals into modern passenger facilities for more than 30 different Carnival Corporation cruise ships as well as cruise ships from other lines. Cruise Terminals 2, 19, 21 and 26 will begin by the end of April, with completion dates ranging from mid-December 2012 through early June 2013.
“Cruise ships are getting larger, so homeports such as Port Everglades must reconfigure and modernize their cruise terminals to accommodate arriving and debarking guests simultaneously to keep ships on schedule,” says Port Everglades Chief Executive/Port Director Steven Cernak.
Cruise lines operating ships of various sizes and capacities will be able to process embarking and debarking passengers at the same time from each of the terminals. All terminals will have two passenger loading bridges, separate and larger baggage halls, improved ground transportation areas and new Florida-inspired artwork. Broward County’s Public Works Department, Seaport Engineering & Construction Division is overseeing the renovations. Moss & Associates is the general contractor.
Florida-themed Artwork
Three of the cruise terminals — 2, 19 and 26 — will feature new artwork from artists who were selected from a field of 208 applicants. The existing artwork in Terminal 21 will be restored and relocated. The objective is to help promote South Florida tourism and improve the cruise guest experience by evoking a sense of place that is warm, tropical and lighthearted. The artists will be using fabricators, suppliers and other service providers primarily based in Broward County and other South Florida areas.
Miami artist Xavier Cortada is working on two pieces for Cruise Terminal 2 in the Northport section of Port Everglades. “Starfish Shuffle” will provide cruise guests with a dual sensory experience as they will be able to enjoy the sight of a whimsical giant starfish suspended from the ceiling that is fabricated with a colorful acoustic media that reduces ambient noise and contributes to a more comfortable guest experience. “Pelican Path” turns a 40-foot glass mosaic and ceramic mural, depicting ripples in the water generated by pelicans taking flight, into a directional sign for cruise guests to follow from ticketing to the waiting area.
In Cruise Terminal 19, located in the Midport section of Port Everglades, artist Mark Fuller will employ schools of suspended multi-colored acrylic fish to guide cruise guests through the terminal. Entitled “Fish,” this artwork will engage guests of all ages with high tech engineering that creates schools of prism-like fish casting colorful shadows.
The existing artwork in Cruise Terminal 21, created by artist Ralph Helmick and associate artist Stuart Schecter, will be relocated to a more visible location once the terminal renovation is complete so guests can better enjoy the “Fata Morgana,” a three-dimensional pointillist cruise ship and its reflection that is constructed of 25,000 small cast pewter elements hung on nearly 1,700 fine cables with incredible precision to an overhead suspension grid.
South Florida mosaic artist Carlos Alves will create a “Fish Tank Wall” on the elevator wall of Cruise Terminal 26 from the first floor up to the second floor waiting area. The artwork will feature turquoise blue and green mosaic tiles arranged in gentle wavelike patterns and schools of aluminum fish mounted on short brackets so they appear to be swimming.
Landmark Agreement
The estimated $54 million cruise terminal renovations are part of an investment that Port Everglades committed to under an agreement, finalized in April 2010, between Carnival Corporation and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, which is the governing body for Port Everglades. The landmark agreement, one of the largest in Carnival’s history, calls for a minimum of 25.5 million cruise guests from multiple Carnival Corporation brands sailing to and from Broward County’s Port Everglades over the initial15-year term, and will potentially produce almost half-a-billion dollars in Port revenue.
Economic Impact
An estimated 1,000 construction jobs will be created by the terminal renovations, equating to $40.7 million in personal income and $3.7 million in state and local taxes, according to an economic impact study by Martin Associates, a consulting firm based in Lancaster, PA, that specializes in assessing the economic impacts of seaports and other transportation entities.
In total, the agreement with Carnival is expected to generate $843.5 million in business revenue statewide annually from a combination of cruise port and airport activity. Locally and regionally, more than 2,100 permanent regional jobs will be supported in the cruise industry, generating $64.4 million in personal income. Statewide, the cruise business associated with the agreement such as hotel stays, restaurants, ship supplies, etc. is expected to support nearly 5,000 jobs, which could generate $258.9 million in personal income and $19.2 million in state and local taxes.
