Port of San Diego Breaks Ground on New 'Green' Cruise Ship Terminal

Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Contact: Marguerite Elicone (619) 686-6222

Sledgehammers were wielded on the Broadway Pier by the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners, cruise line and other officials on August 4 at a groundbreaking for construction of a new cruise ship terminal. With a couple of whacks, the group broke the ceremonial concrete slabs.

"This marks the beginning of a project that will benefit the entire region," said Stephen P. Cushman, Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners. "The new terminal will allow us to welcome passengers in a grander fashion, while also growing our cruise business."

The modern terminal is the Port’s first “green” building and is designed to meet silver-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. This means it will use less water, less energy and produce fewer pollutants.

Some of the construction elements that will help the project qualify for its LEED certification include use of a photovoltaic system that will provide at least 12 percent of the building’s energy. The project also may incorporate highly reflective roof paint and low-flow toilets, urinals and faucets that will help keep water and energy costs down. Low-emitting materials such as low voc paints (paints that contain minimal amounts of volatile organic compounds that could be hazardous to a person’s health), as well as low voc carpets and sealants may also be incorporated.

On days when cruise ships aren’t docked at the pier, the facility can be used for community gatherings, special events and public viewing of San Diego Bay.

The Port and Carnival Corporation & plc, parent company of many of the cruise lines serving San Diego, are investing about $22.4 million for this project.

Jaynes Corporation, a construction company with offices throughout the southwest, is building the new terminal. It is estimated this project will provide 75 good-paying construction jobs. Completion is anticipated in late 2010.

The new terminal can accommodate 2,600 passengers and will include space for U.S. Customs & Border Protection. Once this terminal is completed, the Port plans to upgrade the neighboring B Street Pier Cruise Ship Terminal. That terminal can service two cruise ships at a time. Up until now, on days when three or four ships were in port, the Broadway Pier was used as a temporary terminal.

Last year, there were 297 cruise ship calls to the Port of San Diego, bringing nearly a million passengers. Each cruise ship that stops here has an economic impact of about $2 million. That number is calculated from passenger spending and the businesses that serve the cruise lines. These include florists, food suppliers, linen companies, cleaning companies and bus and transportation services. Passengers also visit local attractions such as Sea World and the Zoo.

The Port’s cruise business continues to grow and has outgrown its main terminal at the B Street Pier. That terminal can service two ships at a time. On days when three or four ships are in Port, Broadway Pier is used as a temporary terminal and passengers have been processed in a tent structure. Passengers will now be welcomed in a modern cruise ship terminal, which will allow the Port to keep pace with its growing cruise business.

The 52,000-sqare-foot facility was designed by Bermello Ajamil and Partners, Inc. It features a “sawtooth” roofline and glass roll-up doors. The facade of the building will be all glass, giving the structure an "airy, open feel."

(Related Story)

---