Massport seeks partner to help expand terminal

[Jason]

PIER PRESSURE: Massport seeks partner to help expand terminal

Massport officials say they have received applications from potential co-developers in the agency’s renewed effort to expand the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal in South Boston. (GARY HIGGINS/The Patriot Ledger)

The Patriot Ledger

BOSTON - The Massachusetts Port Authority intends to expand the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal in South Boston after shelving the plans because of budget cuts following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

This time, however, Massport is looking for a partner.

The agency received applications from potential co-developers earlier this month, according to port director Mike Leone, but he declined to reveal the names of the companies.

Leone said it’s possible Massport would work with a cruise company, a stevedoring operation or a real estate developer. Massport could also decide to complete the project on its own.

Massport officials are trying to attract more cruise ships to Boston. The agency says the industry contributes more than $115 million to the local economy every year.

The terminal, part of the former Boston Army Base, handled 102 cruise vessel visits and 233,000 passengers in 2005. This year, 81 vessels with 209,000 passengers visited the terminal. More than 100 cruise visits are already booked for 2007.

Massport is gearing up to accommodate more than 400,000 visitors annually at some point within the next five years.

But to do that, Massport needs more terminal space to accommodate the largest ships. Currently, Black Falcon Cruise Terminal occupies just one-third of the two-story, 300,000-square-foot terminal building.