PORTS SEE PRE-PANDEMIC ACTIVITY

By Alex Marcheschi

The cruise industry saw a very encouraging 2022 and is on pace to return to pre-pandemic activity levels in 2023

The return of the cruise industry to near pre-pandemics levels of activity is being welcomed by ports as well as passengers. And while PortMiami remains the cruise capital of the world, ports around the U.S. are benefiting as cruise lines continue their policy of homeporting ships in places customers can drive to.

The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) is on track to meet 2019 pre-pandemic passenger numbers, with 1.4 million passenger movements anticipated by the end of the fiscal year in June. The Port of Galveston, Texas, is projecting to end 2023 with 362 ship calls, a record for the port’s 22-year history. The Port of Los Angeles is no different as it, to, benefits from the cruise industry rebound, with 229 cruise ship calls projected for 2023—the most since 2008.

“One of the greatest comeback stories (from the pandemic) is cruise operations. Oceangoing cruises were suspended for two years, but the demand for cruising did not go away. Carnival recently celebrated their 50th anniversary year with an average 110% occupancy on their sailings out of New Orleans,” says Port of New Orleans press secretary Kimberly Curth. “Royal Caribbean returned seasonally in November and Disney is doubling their number of cruises from Port NOLA in 2023 with 12 sailings. River cruises resumed successfully from the Port in March 2021 and are now at record levels with nine river cruise vessels cruising from New Orleans. We were also thrilled to recently welcome Viking Cruise Line’s first cruise from New Orleans.”

The comeback stories are happening across the country, which is why The Port of Los Angeles is trying to bolster itself for the future. It invited comments on a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for the future development of a new Outer Harbor Cruise Terminal and redevelopment of the existing World Cruise Center on the LA waterfront in late January.

“This cruise development initiative is critical to our business, our community and the LA Waterfront, and we want to make sure it’s done right,” says Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Each cruise ship that calls the Port of Los Angeles generates more than $1 million into the local economy, so it’s important that we maximize our opportunities to bring more visitors and revenue into the community.”

The RFP scope includes development, redevelopment, and management of all cruise operations at the port. The RFP scope also covers redevelopment of the existing Los Angeles World Cruise Center, also called the Inner Harbor Cruise Terminal.

In Florida, Denmark-headquartered

PowerCon AS is set to deliver five shore power systems for cruise ships to the Port of Miami by the end of 2023. The eventual combined system will be the largest shore power system in the world. Shore power (or cold ironing) is seen as key to eliminating ship emissions in port, and major cruise lines have been investing heavily in fitting ships to use the technology.

The PowerCon system will provide shoreside electricity for cruise ships at Terminal V (Virgin), F (Carnival), A (Royal Caribbean), B (Norwegian Cruise Line) and MSC Cruise Line.

“PortMiami is establishing itself at the forefront of pushing shore power with this project, giving a clear signal to the industry and local community, representing a prime example for other ports to follow,” says PowerCon.

To help continue the growth of ports in the country, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) making available more than $662 million in Federal FY2023 funding for MARAD’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP).

“America’s ports play a central role in our supply chains,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With today’s announcement, we are helping make our ports safer, more efficient, and more reliable — strengthening supply chains, reducing costs for the American people, and positioning us for economic success.”

MARAD’s Port Infrastructure Development Program discretionary grants help eligible applicants — including port authorities, states, local governments, indigenous tribal nations, counties, and other eligible entities — complete critical port and portrelated infrastructure projects.

In more sustainability news, Royal Caribbean Group’s Galveston, Texas, terminal opened in November 2022 and became the first cruise terminal to generate 100% of its needed energy through on-site solar panels. This makes the terminal, which will be used by the company’s Royal Caribbean International brand, is the first facility in the world to the meet U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Zero Energy standard.

“We are focused on innovating across all aspects of our company, especially in our work to advance sustainability in the communities we visit,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “We deeply value both the oceans we sail and the communities we visit and operate in, and the modern design and development features at our terminal in Galveston will work in service of both.”

The new cruise terminal at the Port of Galveston was the first in Texas to achieve LEED Gold certification, an industry-leading certification expected to be received within the first two quarters of 2023. The Galveston terminal marks the cruise company’s fourth LEED certified facility and its first Gold certified. The previous projects include Terminal A at PortMiami; the Springfield, Oregon campus; and the Innovation Lab at Royal Caribbean Group’s corporate headquarters in Miami.

The $125 million, 161,334-square-foot Galveston Cruise Terminal significantly expands the company’s presence in the port, increasing the cruise line’s ability to accommodate up to 630,000 guests per year. The opening of the terminal will mark the first time Galveston welcomes Royal Caribbean International’s signature Oasis Class, the world’s largest cruise ships, with the arrival of Allure of the Seas.