Posted on April 10, 2018
By Dave Berman, Florida Today
Port Canaveral is preparing for the biggest single project in its history, as construction will begin this summer on a $150 million cruise terminal complex.
That, along with more than $38 million in major Port Canaveral cargo and infrastructure projects during 2018 and 2019, will keep construction crews busy throughout the port.
“There’s a lot happening at the port,” Port Canaveral Chief Executive Officer John Murray said.
Port commissioners on March 28 approved a contract for demolition of the current Cruise Terminal 3 west of Jetty Park, an initial step that will make way for the new, $150 million Cruise Terminal 3 project.
“This is the largest program that we’ve ever undertaken here at the port, so we’re very excited about it,” Bill Crowe, Port Canaveral’s senior director of facilities, construction and engineering, told port commissioners, as he updated them on capital projects at the port.
Design work for the project is about 30 percent complete. Miami-based Bermello Ajamil & Partners was selected in September to lead design work for the terminal.
Melbourne-based Frank-Lin Services of Brevard won the contract to demolish the old cruise terminal. Its $210,000 bid was the lowest of the bids from 14 companies seeking the contract.
Separate contracts will be awarded between May and August for the berth and dredging, the passenger boarding bridge, the terminal and related site work, and the adjacent parking garage. The goal is to have the project completed by December 2019.
Murray said the port is in final negotiations with the cruise line that will use the new terminal, and an announcement is expected later this month on who the cruise line is.
“We’re not doing this in a vacuum,” Murray said. “We do have a long-term partner at Cruise Terminal 3.”
While the cruise terminal on the south side of the port is the biggest-ticket item, there are other major projects underway or planned at the port for 2018 and 2019.
Here are some details about them:
North Cargo Pier 1 and 2
GLF Construction in September was awarded a $4.69 million contract to rehabilitate the two piers.
Crowe said this is one of the more complicated of the projects at the port, because work is going on while the docks remain in active use by Morton Salt and Seaport Canaveral.
Work includes new concrete, bollards and fenders on the piers.
A $1.59 million Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development grant is helping pay for the project, which is expected to be completed in June.
North Cargo Berth 8
Orion Marine Construction in January was awarded a $17.92 million contract for this project.
Orion is on site, and currently is working on clearing the site in preparation for the project work. Among the components of the project are a new bulkhead wall and pier extension.
An $8.58 million Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development grant is helping pay for the project, which is expected to be completed in the summer of 2019.
Directional signs and ‘wayfaring’
Ivey’s Construction in February was awarded this port-wide project under a $7.66 million contract, which will be partially funded by a grant from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. The fund was established by Florida Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature last year to encourage continued economic growth in Florida.
The project is expected to be completed by the spring of 2019.
Cruise road network
Port commissioners in May will award this contract for revamping of the cruise terminal roadway network on the north side of the port.
Two companies have been “short-listed” as finalists for the contract — Ivey’s Construction and P&S Paving.
The project has a $7.3 million budget and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2019.
New cruise parking lot
The port plans to build a 280-space, pay-on-exit parking lot to supplement the parking garage at Cruise Terminal 1 on the south side of the port.
Murray said the addition of Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas to the port cruise ship lineup next year will present parking challenges, so the port needs this overflow lot to handle to vehicle volume
Already, the Cruise Terminal 1 garage often is at capacity, Murray said.
Port commissioners will award this contract in May or June.
Bait-and-tackle shop
Doug Wilson Contracting will be completing this project this spring.
The company was awarded a $643,040 contract for the project in September.
The facility — located between the Freddie Patrick Park boat ramps and Jetty Park — will have a retail area and a cafe with a deck and outdoor seating.
Concerns over steel tariffs
One of the issues port commissioners are concerned about is how tariffs on imported steel will affect the cost of the port’s construction projects.
Crowe said the first project that will be affected will be North Cargo Berth 8, which is using steel imported from China and Turkey. Crowe said a 25 percent tariff could increase the cost of the steel by $1 million.
But Crowe said port officials decided not to switch steel suppliers, as that could delay the project because of potential delays in receiving the steel. That, in turn, could have a major negative effect on deploying equipment and staff for the project, Crowe said.
Port Commissioner Bob Harvey urged port staff to examine the pros and cons of buying U.S.-made steel vs. foreign-made steel when analyzing pricing on the Cruise Terminal 3 project.
Crowe said he would do that. He also pledged that he and his staff would work to deliver the projects on time and on budget, with a focus on customer service.
Source: Florida Today
