Port Canaveral awarded $14.1M to upgrade North Cargo Berth 3
The Canaveral Port Authority has been awarded a $14.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Port Infrastructure Development Program to modernize and expand Port Canaveral’s North Cargo Berth 3.
Port CEO Capt. John Murray said:
“This is the largest federal grant ever awarded to Port Canaveral, and we thank Secretary Chao for her commitment to us. We have more demand for our bulkhead than we can currently provide. This funding now gives us the opportunity to aggressively advance the development of our cargo facilities to accommodate growth in key sectors including construction materials and commercial space.”
Port Canaveral’s Cargo Berth Rehabilitation and Modernization project will demolish an existing pier, replacing it with an 880-foot long wharf with the necessary channel width to accommodate larger vessels simultaneously at berth. Built in 1976, NCB3’s design – combined with the increasing size of commercial vessels and growing cargo diversity – has made the berth functionally obsolete.
Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao said:
“Our ports are an integral component of our Nation’s economic success. As the Administration continues to invest in America’s infrastructure, this program will further modernize and improve the efficiency of our waterways.”
Port Canaveral’s NCB3 project has a total cost of $37,861,600. The CPA and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will maximize the leveraging of federal dollars by providing a combined match of $23,761,600 or 63 percent of the total project cost. This berth rehabilitation and modernization project furthers the DOT’s desire to finance projects that have actively sought to lower the federal dollar amount needed to complete infrastructure projects.
In Washington, D.C., U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) applauded Port Canaveral as the world’s second busiest cruise port in multi-day embarkations and a world-class driver of the Florida economy.
U.S. Rep. Bill Posey (FL-8) stated:
“Port Canaveral has long been a vital component to the economy of the Space Coast and Central Florida. The award of this grant will help pave the way for future job creation and economic activity, and I am pleased to see the Administration’s continued recognition of the importance of these infrastructure projects to our communities.”
The NCB3 Berth Rehabilitation Project is included in the Port’s five-year capital improvement plan with a targeted start date by the end of 2020. The Port has received the necessary required permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Florida to begin the first phase of construction.
