County to spend $381 million on new PortMiami terminals for MSC Cruises

But nada to connect ships to power and cut pollution

Miami-Dade Commissioners will be asked on Wednesday to approve the design, construction, finance, operation, management and maintenance of a new terminal complex at PortMiami estimated to cost taxpayers at least $381 million over half of a 62-year lease with MSC Cruises.

In the middle of the COVID19 pandemic. For a cruise industry gripped by the economic crisis. With less opportunity for public participation.

The county is supposed to pay $177.2 million for the construction, $20 million for the an additional berth if the need arises, and $183.8 million over the next 30 years. Oh, and 50% of any unexpected costs over $5 mil.

Estimated revenue in lease payments over the course of the lease is $2 trillion and the economic benefit ripple effect is $43 billion, supporters say.

But were these figures from before or after the port was shut down in March of last year?

Bill Talbert, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Visitors and Convention Bureau, and Christopher Hotchkins, CEO of the Miami Tunnel, urged the county’s PortMiami and Environmental Sustainability Committee last week to move this forward to the full board of commissioners.

“As you know PortMiami is the cruise capitol of the world,” Talbert said. “Infrastructure investments are critical going forward to keep that positioning.

“Lets get more jobs, jobs jobs!”

The $577 million project is expected to create 1,500 temporary construction jobs and then more than 8,600 permanent jobs from operations.

PortMiami Director Juan Kuryla said the project will help position the port for future growth.

“This first-of-its-kind, state-of-the-arts shared facility will be the first in the United States that will be able to accommodate three ships at a time from two different lines,” he said.

If it’s so state-of-the-art, why did they skimp on the shore power hook-ups? These can cut carbon emissions by a third and toxic sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide gases emitted into our downtown air while the cruise ships idle in place, according to a Miami Herald story.

The ships have been retrofitted and use shore power at other ports. But there is no plan to build shore power hookup stations at any of the new terminals being built or improved by the county.

Not at the new Royal Caribbean International terminal opened in 2019. Not at the one under construction for Norweigan Cruise Lines. Not the new terminal being built by Virgin Voyages. It’s not even part of the $120 million “modernization” of Terminal F for Carnival Cruise Line.

The Herald story said these shore power hookups would cost $20 million a pop, which seems like a drop in the $2 trillion bucket. Committee Chair Rebeca Sosa said we can take care of that later, after the cruise industry recovers from the COVID19 pandemic-induced economic crisis.

The committee meeting lasted a whole 24 minutes. But that’s only because Hotchkins took several minutes to get to the podium from the lobby. And a few minutes were spent releasing a covenant on environmentally endangered land in South Dade.

“We’re trying to move at the speed of business,” said Commissioner Oliver Gilbert behind his colorful Brito mask.

Newly-elected Mayor Daniella Levine Cava must have left her “water warrior” superhero cape at home. While she was elected partly on an environmental platform, nobody from her office raised the issue.

Also silent: the county’s new Chief Sustainability Officer Irela Bague. But Ladra wonders what she’d have to say about the lack of shore power hookups. Will she say anything on Wednesday?

Would it make any difference? PortMiami is one of the county’s sacred cows that can’t be touched. Commissioner Sosa — a regular cruise passenger before the pandemic who has always chaired the port committee — is going to be very protective.

“It’s always a pleasure to see you,” she told MSC Cruises President and CEO Richard Sasso last week, calling him “part of the family.”

Sasso, who knows a sweet deal when he sees one, said he was grateful to the staff and Kulyra for moving the project, which he’s “emotional tied” to.

“The last 10 years have seen extraordinary growth,” said Sossa, who graduated from Miami Central High in 1967 and in business port since 1972. “But what’s happened in the last 10 years, I think, is nothing compared to what can happen in 10, 20, 30, 40 and beyond.”

Is that how long we have to wait for the shore power hookups?

PortMiami, Rebeca Sosa

County to spend $381 million on new PortMiami terminals for MSC Cruises added by Ladra on February 17, 2021
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