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Hefty price may sink port plan

The cost to turn St. Petersburg's port into a cruise hub? $72-million.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN
Published April 27, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - The city's long-standing dream to turn the Port of St. Petersburg into a cruise ship hub took a major blow Thursday when engineers said the transformation could cost at least $72-million.

The staggering estimate, which was provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, did not include needed improvements landside - from passenger facilities to a parking garage.

And it came with the caveat that federal assistance was unlikely.

"We've done everything we possibly could," said Tim Murphy, a project manager for the corps of engineers. "But we haven't been able to justify the project."

The absence of the corps of engineers would leave the city on the hook to find the money, an uncertainty even in bullish times.

Some city officials immediately seemed ready to jettison the idea for something less costly - be it megayachts, or a fisherman's wharf or enhanced opportunities for research vessels.

Others want more time.

"There are people at other ports who want to come to this area," said City Council member Earnest Williams, the biggest supporter of bringing the cruise industry to the city.

Officially, the city agreed to shelve plans for a cruise industry to re-evaluate the future of the struggling deepwater port.

The city has pumped $1.8-million into the fledgling Port of St. Petersburg since 2000, yet has received little in return. This year, the city has budgeted an additional $700,000 to be spent at the port.

Council members said it was time to begin to recoup that investment.

"I hate to see cruise ships go away, but $72-million is just not justifiable for anything we can do at the port," said council Chairman John Bryan. "Now we can start focusing our energies on really what we can use that port for."

City officials have informally discussed several ideas for the port, but it was always with the idea of a cruise hub in the foreground.

Now those ideas will be evaluated on their own.

Bryan, for instance, has said the port could be used to enhance the city's marina operations.

Council member Jamie Bennett said he has heard discussions about a partnership with the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg to launch some type of ecotourism venture.

And council member Bill Foster suggested one day there may even be opportunities for ferry service between St. Petersburg and Cuba.

"Maybe we were thinking way too big," said council member Herb Polson. "We've been at this a long time. At some point we have to face reality. Maybe it's time."

Aaron Sharockman can be reached at asharockman@sptimes.com or (727) 892-2273.

[Last modified April 27, 2007, 00:50:50]