If there is a Florida port that wont see growth when the Panama Canal expansion is completed, it would be the port located closest to the canal.
Already one of the busiest ports of call in the nation, Key West is strictly a cruise ship and ferry port, with berths -- Outer Mole Pier, Mallory Dock, and Pier B -- at the western end of the island city that sits at the end of the Florida Keys.
No cargo comes through the port.
And with space limited and in an attempt to preserve the eclectic heritage of the community, the city --which receives about 800,000 cruise visitors a year, about 10 percent of Floridas cruise passenger list --has apparently scuttled plans to widen the main ship channel. The widening, which is supported by the local business community, is seen as needed to attract the larger cruise ships that are now being built.
City commissioners voted last month against letting the city residents vote on the projected $35 million widening.
Cruise passenger totals have grown from 597,000 in 1999, before Mallory Dock was made a full cruise ship docking facility.
But since that time, environmentalist have expressed concerns that as cruise ships get larger, the marine life that many tourists come to enjoy could be damaged.
Without cargo, the economic impact on the island town of roughly 25,000 comes strictly from the cruise lines.
Jobs: 400 direct, 450 indirectly.
Economic impact: $67 million a year, based upon estimates that cruise passengers and crew spend $84 per person per visit.
Revenue: $2.1 million a year from cruise ship tariffs and fees, accounting for 5 percent of Key Wests general revenue.
Cruise lines: Carnival Cruises; Royal Caribbean; Norwegian Cruise Lines; Holland America; Celebrity Cruises; Costa Cruises.
Desired growth
Incorporate the Truman Waterfront, a former U.S. Navy property, into the historic fabric of the city by improving passenger access to and from the facility to commercial areas in Old Town.
Improve the citys Mallory Dock cruise facility through enhancements to the exiting T-pier.
Increase domestic ferry operations as an alternative to land-based transportation.
Maintain and improve port security.
Hindrances to growth
Controlled-growth residents. There is little room for expansion and the surrounding waters have been designated a National Marine Sanctuary. Meanwhile, cruise ships are getting larger.
Seven questions with Port of Key West Port and Transit Director Jim Fitton:
SSN: Where does the port view itself in the footprint of Gov. Scott's dream to attract more growth from the Panama Canal expansion?
Fitton: The governor's vision is focused on improving and increasing container and cargo ship capacity to attract new business and jobs to the state. As a non-industrial port, our concerns are being able to retain our position as a top cruise ship destination in the world's largest, most competitive market, the Caribbean.
SSN: What is the desired growth in the next five to 20 years for the port?
Fitton: For the Port of Key West, the issue isn't increasing our growth as much as it is to maintain what we already have. This 8-square-mile island isn't capable of greatly increasing the number of cruise ship passengers we disembark each year, but we also don't want to see a significant loss of the passengers that bring in revenue to the local business community.
SSN: What will it take to reach this growth?
Fitton: The city is working with all the involved entities (business groups, environmental groups, local neighborhood associations) to decide on what is the right amount of cruise ship tourism and how we can continue to be a major port of call without negatively impacting the local quality of life.
SSN: What ports and entities are offering the most competition to attract this trade?
Fitton: We are in competition with every port of call in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. As they expand their amenities to attract more ships, we have to somehow keep pace.Please keep in mind that as the only U.S. port of call in the Caribbean, any business lost to Key West is also lost to the state and country as well.
SSN: What is Florida doing to counter this competition?
Fitton: Like the other Florida ports, Key West is reviewing all options to ensure we can continue to safely and consistently bring in the newer, post-Panamax cruise ships.
SSN: Who are the biggest champions of the port?
Fitton: All of the businesses and employees who depend on our average of 800,000 cruise-ship tourists and the estimated $68 million that they bring to the local economy annually.
SSN: What and who are some of the biggest hurdles facing the port's expansion?
Fitton: The need to balance our economic desires with very real environmental concerns and overall quality of life that makes Key West a desirable place for tourists and residents alike.
The first installment of this series: "Port Canaveral Bulking Cargo and Cruise Passengers" can be found here.
The second: "Port Backers Offer Vision to Make Florida the Global Hub" can be found here.
The third: "Gateway to the Caribbean Seeks Inland Expansion" can be found here.
The fourth: "Port of Miami is Digging for Growth" can be found here.
(This is the fifth in a weekly series with port directors in Florida.)
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or (772) 215-9889.
