Michael Bixler

The Port of San Diego is moving forward with the development of a new $28 million cruise ship terminal building slated for construction on the Broadway Pier. Located in a prime location on San Diego Bay’s Downtown waterfront, the design and ultimate look of the building sparked intense interest by Downtown residents and other stakeholders.

After many public outreach meetings and collaboration with the Centre City Development Corp., the design for a modern 52,000-square-foot steel frame building was agreed upon. This new public building meets the needs of cruise lines, Customs and Border Protection and the public.

A key part of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan, the Broadway Pier Cruise Terminal will serve as a striking gateway to our region for visiting cruise passengers as well as a convenient and efficient departure point for visitors and locals beginning a cruise from San Diego.

The two-story building, which will incorporate energy and water-saving features and public art, is designed to function as a special event venue and as public open space when not being used to serve the region’s cruise industry. The building will include areas for passenger check-in, baggage processing and Customs and Border Protection.

I’m happy to report that this handsome public works project will soon be advertised for construction bids. Construction is estimated to take from 12 to 15 months and to be completed by the end of 2010.

As an economic engine for the region, the Port is striving to keep its cruise facilities and infrastructure up to date and able to accommodate anticipated growth in this popular industry.

It is estimated that each homeport cruise ship call here has an economic impact of about $2 million. This figure is derived from the average amount that a cruise ship passenger spends while in the San Diego region, along with the employment associated with serving the cruise ship and the many businesses and services that support it. They include food companies, linen services, trucking companies, fuel companies, land-side tour companies and florists.

In 2007, the Port of San Diego had 238 cruise calls with more than 700,000 passengers. By the end of 2008, the Port anticipates that number to jump to 252 cruises and more than 800,000 passengers. Today nine cruise lines are making calls to San Diego.

Carnival Cruise Lines has loaned the Port $12 million toward cruise terminal projects on the B Street and Broadway Piers. Of these funds, $10 million will be used for construction of the steel and glass building on the Broadway Pier. Once this terminal is complete, work can begin to rebuild the existing B Street Pier Cruise Ship Terminal while the ships berth at the Broadway Pier.

The Port’s Capital Development Project money will fund most of the project. However, because of an increase in construction materials such as steel, the Port is offering naming rights to the terminal to cover the increased construction costs. A minimum bid of $5 million has been established for a 10-year naming rights commitment. Just like other businesses, the Port needs to be creative in these challenging economic times.

And as an environmental steward of San Diego Bay, the Port is creating an “environmental friendly” structure with energy-conserving features, including solar panels. We are striving for silver LEED certification (for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the U.S. Green Building Council. This program evaluates materials, energy use, recycling, and operation of a building.

Provisions also have been made in the Broadway Pier design to provide a “cold ironing” conduit which will comply with California’s regulation to provide ships with shore power. This will allow cruise ships to turn off their diesel engines while at berth, significantly reducing harmful air emissions. Many of these environmental features will be paid for using various grants from the state and the Port’s environmental funds.

Clearly, the Broadway Pier Cruise Terminal building holds the interest of the community. Through public outreach efforts, the teaming up of various Port departments including engineering, environmental and public art, a modern structure will be built on this prime location of which we can all be proud.

Michael Bixler is chairman of the San Diego Unified Port Commission.