The Massachusetts Port Authority set a record in 2007 for the increased number of container cargo shipments and cruise passengers, according to figures from Massport on Tuesday.
The combined imports and exports at Conley Container Terminal grew by more than 10 percent over 2006; Cruiseport Boston's Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, which handles scheduled cruise passenger traffic, grew by 12 percent. Both terminals are in South Boston.
"With respect to cruise passengers, we benefited from a 25 percent increase in scheduled ship calls and larger vessels," said Mike Leone, port director for Massport, in a statement. "This increased business demonstrates Boston is an attractive destination to connect vacationers with leisure, and a great location to homeport cruise ships."
Massport said a rise in cargo activity from Asia (since 2002) and a $28 million terminal upgrade fueled the increased activity. The upgrades, which included new equipment, expanded capacity by 50 percent -- even though the 100-acre footprint of the terminal remained unchanged. .
The 2007 cruise season counted 101 ships at Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, bringing 234,284 passengers to Boston. The port also signed a new 10-year agreement between Norwegian Cruise Lines and the Government of Bermuda designating NCL the exclusive line to sail from Boston to Bermuda.
Massport said discussions have progressed with Cargo Ventures LLC to build a second cruise terminal; the $35 million, 100,000-square-foot project is in its design phase.
A recent Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) economic impact study ranked Massachusetts tenth of all states in direct spending by the cruise industry. In 2006 the industry spent $387 million in Massachusetts, and expenditures by the cruise lines, passengers, and their crews generated employment, income, and other economic benefits for the state.
In 2008, 115 ships from 15 major cruise lines are scheduled to call the Port of Boston.
The combined imports and exports at Conley Container Terminal grew by more than 10 percent over 2006; Cruiseport Boston's Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, which handles scheduled cruise passenger traffic, grew by 12 percent. Both terminals are in South Boston.
"With respect to cruise passengers, we benefited from a 25 percent increase in scheduled ship calls and larger vessels," said Mike Leone, port director for Massport, in a statement. "This increased business demonstrates Boston is an attractive destination to connect vacationers with leisure, and a great location to homeport cruise ships."
Massport said a rise in cargo activity from Asia (since 2002) and a $28 million terminal upgrade fueled the increased activity. The upgrades, which included new equipment, expanded capacity by 50 percent -- even though the 100-acre footprint of the terminal remained unchanged. .
The 2007 cruise season counted 101 ships at Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, bringing 234,284 passengers to Boston. The port also signed a new 10-year agreement between Norwegian Cruise Lines and the Government of Bermuda designating NCL the exclusive line to sail from Boston to Bermuda.
Massport said discussions have progressed with Cargo Ventures LLC to build a second cruise terminal; the $35 million, 100,000-square-foot project is in its design phase.
A recent Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) economic impact study ranked Massachusetts tenth of all states in direct spending by the cruise industry. In 2006 the industry spent $387 million in Massachusetts, and expenditures by the cruise lines, passengers, and their crews generated employment, income, and other economic benefits for the state.
In 2008, 115 ships from 15 major cruise lines are scheduled to call the Port of Boston.