Seattle-based cruise company SSA Marine and Tampa-based holding company Slip Knott, LLC have revealed plans for a new cruise port on Florida’s Gulf Coast in Manatee County. Located just south of Tampa Bay, near Bradenton, Florida, the proposed port would open the region to the largest modern cruise ships for the first time.
The new cruise port and terminal facility would be built on a 300-acre site known as the Knott-Cowen tract, which is adjacent to and on the Gulf of Mexico side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Currently, mega cruise ships are unable to sail out of the Port of Tampa since they can not sail under the Skyway.
The company’s website states, “A new cruise port will complement existing cruise activities in the region by being able to accommodate the newer, larger, low-emissions cruise vessels that would otherwise be unable to visit due to the height restrictions of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. With cruise ships continuing to modernize, the region will be well positioned to align with and support the cruise industry’s future growth.”
If approved, the project, which is still at its early planning stages, is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs as well as boost labor wages by $1.6 billion. Once fully operational, the new port will supply more than 13,000 jobs and bring in more than $40 million annually in tax revenue.
The company stated, “Cruise activity attracts visitors, supports small businesses, and generates employment across a wide range of sectors, including hospitality, transportation, logistics, and maritime services.”
Additionally, the company is doing its part to protect the environment with the preservation of Rattlesnake Key. The 710-acre area, which was also purchased by SSA Marine, is described as a “treasured local community asset”in an effort to “remove any possibility of private commercialization and ensure its conservation.”
If the project is approved, construction is anticipated to take 3-5 years.
If you would like to hear Tony’s take on a new cruise port in Manatee County, click here!