Port Everglades, which is one of the three busiest cruise ports in the world with nearly 4 million passengers expected in 2014, will begin the renovation for its sixth cruise terminal in five years this spring.
The Terminal 4 will be modernized through an expansion and reconfiguration effort that will provide the cruise line industry with a modern dual flow facility just in time for the 2014/2015 cruise season. In addition, the adjacent Slip 2 will be extended by 250 feet for a total 1,150 feet of berth length to accommodate larger cruise ships calling at Port Everglades. The Slip 2 extension is slated for completion by the end of 2016.
The terminal renovations will begin in mid-March and be completed by November 2014 in time for the start of the next cruise season.
“This latest expansion effort is a direct result of the cruise industry’s movement towards building larger ships,” said Port Everglades Chief Executive & Port Director Steven Cernak. “We are continuously reinvesting in our cruise facilities to keep them fresh, convenient and efficient for the cruise lines and their guests.”
Once completed, Port Everglades will apply for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the terminal due to the scheduled energy-efficient terminal improvements. The $24 million Cruise Terminal 4 renovation includes:
• Moving passenger drop-off from the east side of the terminal to the west side to separate the traffic from neighboring Cruise Terminal 2 and reduce traffic congestion in that area
• Providing covered loading/drop-off areas as part of the ground transportation area
• Adding 172 surface parking spaces at ground level adjacent to the ground transportation area
• Replacing the single escalator and older elevators with two new escalators and two new elevators for improved passenger flow
• Improving lighting and acoustics, and a high efficiency air conditioning system
• Installing 50 check-in counters to meet the demands of larger capacity cruise vessels
• Providing new restrooms
• Adding an additional new loading bridge to expedite the embark and debark process
The Broward County Public Works Department’s Seaport Engineering and Construction Division is overseeing the cruise terminal renovation and slip expansion projects. No local taxes will be used for these construction projects as Port Everglades is a self-funding enterprise fund of Broward County government. Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc. is the architect and Moss & Associates is the construction contractor for the Cruise Terminal 4 renovation. Planning and design for the estimated $18 million Slip 2 extension has been awarded to Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc. The Florida Department of Transportation has allocated $1.85 million towards the project.
