South-Carolina
Cruises Ships to No Longer Depart From Charleston After 2024
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Cruise ships will now not begin their journeys from Charleston by the top of 2024, the South Carolina Ports Authority mentioned.
The authority determined to not renew a take care of Carnival Cruise Line that allowed cruises to start and finish from the Union Pier Terminal in downtown Charleston.
Cruise ships can proceed to dock at Charleston, however just for transient, same-day port of name stops, The Submit and Courier of Charleston reported.
The choice ought to minimize the variety of cruise passengers in Charleston down by 80%, officers mentioned.
The State Ports Authority mentioned it would now not work on plans to redevelop a warehouse on the Union Pier right into a cruise terminal. Permits to begin the mission have been tied up for years by lawsuits from conservation and historic preservation teams.
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As a substitute, the authority mentioned it would look into promoting the land it owns to a non-public developer.
Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg mentioned the choice by the authority will enhance the standard of life in his metropolis.
“We’re grateful to the port for taking this critically vital step, and we look ahead to persevering with to work with (State Ports Authority) to make Union Pier a fantastic and vibrant a part of the town of Charleston,” Tecklenburg mentioned.
At present, about 70 cruises a yr go away Charleston for the Bahamas and different Japanese Caribbean locations.
Carnival Cruise Line officers mentioned they are going to proceed to work with the authority to seek out choices to make use of Charleston.
“Within the meantime, it’s enterprise as normal, and we look ahead to seeing our company aboard Carnival Sunshine via 2024,” Carnival spokesman Matt Lupoli mentioned.
After that deal is completed, the Ports Authority mentioned it would proceed to observe a voluntary restrict of not more than 104 cruise ship visits a yr, and no stops by ships that carry greater than 3,500 passengers.
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