Port is Home to Both Cruise and Space Industries
Port Canaveral supports both industries at the site. In May, plans were announced to build a new cruise terminal at the site of North Cargo Berth 8 and use an adjacent parcel of land for a parking garage. The state opposed this. Port Canaveral is second only to PortMiami for cruise ship passenger traffic. It handled 6.92 million cruise passengers last year.ate officials.
“Florida’s cruise tourism and commercial space launch sectors are both vitally important, Port Canaveral bears the responsibility of both,” Kelly and Perdue wrote in a letter to the port authority board. “But in this case, the port has announced its intention to support one sector to the direct detriment of the other. That decision must be reversed.”
Space Industry is Also Expanding at a Rapid Rate
A board meeting resolution has confirmed the cruise terminal plan will be scrapped after a 4-1 vote. It comes as state aerospace agency Space Florida predicted it would need to almost double land use at the port to keep pace with the fast-growing private space industry in the coming years.
“It’s tough to keep everybody happy all the time, but we do our best,” said Canaveral Port Authority CEO John Murray. “Miami’s full. Everglades is full. We don’t want large brand-new assets moving over to Texas, California, or New York. We want to keep that business here in Florida.”
Port Canaveral expects significant growth, with passenger numbers projected to jump from 7.3 million in 2024 to 8.4 million in 2025.
Tags: Canaveral Port Authority, John Murray, Port Canaveral
