Massachusetts eyes port plan: cargo, cruise ship traffic on upswing
The Massachusetts Port Authority will develop a new port plan that outlines additional facilities, land and transportation infrastructure needed to support the growth of Boston’s cargo and cruise ship operations through 2025.
The agency is looking for a consultant to help assess further expansion possibilities and financing sources for its South Boston maritime facilities.
“We’re looking for a strategic plan that will look at global economics regarding world trade,” said port director Michael Leone said. “It’s imperative that we develop the infrastructure, water depth, roadway system and container handling space to meet this increase in trade.”
Massport has seen 6 percent to 9 percent annual growth in container cargo operations for the last three years.
“We expect that growth to continue, and we expect some of the growth to be coming from trade that will be moving into South China and the Indian subcontinent and into the U.S. East Coast through the Suez Canal,” Leone said.
Massport is increasing the cargo-handling capacity at the Conley Container Terminal by 50 percent under a two-year project that will be finished this summer, but more capacity will be needed to handle future growth. The Massport Marine Terminal also is being redeveloped as a cargo warehouse and bulk cargo facility.
On the cruise side, Massport wants to ensure it can handle the significant number of larger ships being built.
“These ships . . . require more terminal space but provide an opportunity for taking passengers farther, so there can be Caribbean cruising from Boston, and additional service to Europe, New England and Canada as well as the St. Lawrence River,” Leone said.
The Black Falcon Cruise Terminal hosted 81 ships and more than 208,000 passengers last year, and 101 ships are scheduled for this year.
“We expect we have the capability and the market to grow this to about 400,000 to 500,000 passengers a year (and 125 to 150 vessels),” Leone said.
Massport currently is evaluating two proposals for a second cruise ship terminal that could accommodate Freedom class vessels, the world’s largest passenger ships that carry 3,500 passengers and 1,500 crew members.
Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas visited Boston last year, but was serviced in a warehouse berth. Massport hopes to have the terminal built for the 2009 cruise season.
The agency is looking for a consultant to help assess further expansion possibilities and financing sources for its South Boston maritime facilities.
“We’re looking for a strategic plan that will look at global economics regarding world trade,” said port director Michael Leone said. “It’s imperative that we develop the infrastructure, water depth, roadway system and container handling space to meet this increase in trade.”
Massport has seen 6 percent to 9 percent annual growth in container cargo operations for the last three years.
“We expect that growth to continue, and we expect some of the growth to be coming from trade that will be moving into South China and the Indian subcontinent and into the U.S. East Coast through the Suez Canal,” Leone said.
Massport is increasing the cargo-handling capacity at the Conley Container Terminal by 50 percent under a two-year project that will be finished this summer, but more capacity will be needed to handle future growth. The Massport Marine Terminal also is being redeveloped as a cargo warehouse and bulk cargo facility.
On the cruise side, Massport wants to ensure it can handle the significant number of larger ships being built.
“These ships . . . require more terminal space but provide an opportunity for taking passengers farther, so there can be Caribbean cruising from Boston, and additional service to Europe, New England and Canada as well as the St. Lawrence River,” Leone said.
The Black Falcon Cruise Terminal hosted 81 ships and more than 208,000 passengers last year, and 101 ships are scheduled for this year.
“We expect we have the capability and the market to grow this to about 400,000 to 500,000 passengers a year (and 125 to 150 vessels),” Leone said.
Massport currently is evaluating two proposals for a second cruise ship terminal that could accommodate Freedom class vessels, the world’s largest passenger ships that carry 3,500 passengers and 1,500 crew members.
Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas visited Boston last year, but was serviced in a warehouse berth. Massport hopes to have the terminal built for the 2009 cruise season.