Port of San Diego's New Cruise Ship Terminal Breaks Ground

[mercedes]

The Board of Port Commissioners and representatives from the major cruise lines serving the Port of San Diego were wielding sledgehammers on Tuesday, August 4, when they broke ground for a new cruise ship terminal on Broadway Pier.

The festivities began at 10 a.m. and included remarks from Board Chair Stephen P. Cushman, Luis Ajamil, the architect who designed the new terminal, and Carlos Torres de Navarra, Director of Strategic Planning and Port Development for Carnival Corporation & plc.

Carnival Corporation & plc is the parent company of Holland America Line, which has operated seasonal cruises from San Diego since 1998. It is also the parent company of Carnival Cruise Lines, which operates the Port's only year-round ship, the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation.

Carnival Corporation loaned the Port $12 million to help pay for construction of the 52,000 square-foot, two-story terminal. The terminal can accommodate 2,600 passengers and will include space for U.S. Customs & Border Protection. The facility will be the Port's first "green" building and is being designed to meet silver-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, meaning it will be designed to use less water, less energy and produce fewer pollutants.

Some of the construction elements that will help the project qualify for its LEED certification include use of a photovoltaic system that will provide at least 12 percent of the building's energy. The project also may incorporate highly reflective roof paint and low-flow toilets, urinals and faucets that will help keep water and energy costs down. Low-emitting materials such as low voc paints (paints that contain minimal amounts of volatile organic compounds that could be hazardous to a person's health), as well as low voc carpets and sealants may also be incorporated.

The new terminal will also include space for private and public events on days when there aren't any cruise ships in port. A public space will be open in the back of the building, with an open pavilion area that will provide views of the bay. Another event area will be located on the second floor.

Jaynes Corporation, a construction company with offices throughout the southwest, is the contractor for the project. Construction is estimated to cost $21.1 million and is scheduled for completion in December 2010.

[DebbieandJerry]

Hopefully the charm of San Diego's ports won't be "ruined"

[Shaunna]

Maybe not...I have to admit when you are on your ship and it's still docked you feel like you are perched right above everyone on the street. Steve and I often wondered to ourselves how far under the street the water actually goes under the harbor.

[seabreeze]

We are going to cruise out of San Diego in Jan. 2011 so will get to see the new terminal first hand. I hope they kept the design to enhance the port area.

[DebbieandJerry]

We loved everything about San Diego's port when we sailed out of there this past March. I hope that more ships and more itineraries will be created once the new port is finished. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

[lindasuelucas]

i would love to see this for myself when it's done. never been to san diego but willing to go.

[DebbieandJerry]

Right now, I think San Diego was the easiest port to sail in and out of. San Francisco, however, was beautiful as you went under the bridges!