Cruise: Halifax, New York/New Jersey

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A shore power system that allows cruise vessels to plug in when calling the Port of Halifax is now complete and fully operational. The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. on October 24 dedicated the new cruise terminal at Cape Liberty Cruise Port, the next phase of the development of the Bayonne (NJ) cruise port.

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 plugged into Halifax’s newly installed shore power system
Photo/Halifax Port Authority

A shore power system that allows cruise vessels to plug in when calling the Port of Halifax is now complete and fully operational. First to hook up was the Royal Princess on October 9.

Shore power helps reduce marine diesel air emissions by enabling ships to shut down their auxiliary engines and connect to the electrical grid in order to provide necessary power while docked. This initiative represents the second shore power installation for cruise ships in Canada. The first was in Port Metro Vancouver.

The shore power project is part of a $10 million cooperative initiative between the Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia and the Halifax Port Authority. The tariff was developed in partnership with Nova Scotia Power.

"This is a very positive development for Halifax and for Nova Scotia for economic development and environmental sustainability," said the Canadian Transport Minister Lisa Raitt. "The cruise industry in Halifax is a major contributor to tourism in Nova Scotia. Through this investment, the Government of Canada is committed to developing this industry in an environmentally sustainable manner."

"It is thanks to our funding partners, our industry partners, and our dedicated employees that we have been able to bring this project to completion," said George Malec, vice president, business development and operations, for the Halifax Port Authority. "We are excited to be able to offer this service to our partners in the cruise industry, and we look forward to our continued work together as we further develop the cruise industry in Halifax."

Testing of the shore power system at the Port of Halifax has been underway since the end of September. The port is exporting more than 25 shore power connections during the 2015 cruise season.

"Cruise Growth Strategy & Shower Power Technology," a PPM paper authored by Catherine McGrail, the port authority’s director cruise development and corporate affairs, is available on the AAPA website.

Substation component of Halifax’s short power system.
Photo/Halifax Port Authority

New York/New Jersey: New Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal Features ‘Art on the Working Waterfront’ 

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.(RCCL) on October 24 dedicated the new cruise terminal at Cape Liberty Cruise Port, the next phase of the development of the Bayonne cruise port.

RCCL is the corporate parent of cruise ship operators Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises.

Bayonne Mayor James Davis, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey’s Director of Port Commerce Richard Larrabee, and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s President and COO Adam Goldstein and Vice President of Port Operations Juan Trescastro dedicated the new cruise terminal to "Art on the Working Waterfront."

Together, they unveiled 10 photographs that capture historic New York Harbor through the eyes of photographer and International Longshoreman Association-member John Bacaring. Following the unveiling, the officials and executives were invited to the very first preview of the new terminal, slated to welcome guests for the first time when Royal Caribbean International’s new Quantum of the Seas arrives in New York Harbor on November 10.

"The development of the new cruise terminal is another example of how public private partnerships are supposed to work," said Mr. Larrabee. "By working together, Royal Caribbean and the port authority have been able to bring this world class terminal on line which can service the newest generation of large cruise ships. We look forward to continuing passenger growth with the arrival of the Quantum Class vessels to the harbor in 2014 and 2015. It’s been a pleasure working with Royal Caribbean on this important project."

The cruise terminal is the product of a partnership between Royal Caribbean and the port authority to develop the Bayonne waterfront for cruise tourism. The first phase of the $55 million port expansion includes a new terminal, with 125,000 square foot check-in, customs and immigration, and luggage processing space, as well as a 950-car parking structure and pier improvements. The new facility is adjacent to the first cruise terminal, which opened in 2004.

"Royal Caribbean thanks the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and the City of Bayonne for this successful collaboration to develop Cape Liberty for cruise tourism," said Mr. Goldstein, president and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "The planned state-of-the-art cruise terminal at Cape Liberty will perfectly complement our Quantum-class ships, which will be the most technologically advanced ships in the world, and help generate jobs and grow the cruise industry regionally."

Opened in May 2004, Cape Liberty Cruise Port is located 15 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport and seven miles south of Manhattan. The port has been the year-round home of Royal Caribbean International’s Explorer of the Seas, and seasonally for Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Summit. Quantum of the Seas will sail to the Caribbean and Bahamas starting this month. Liberty of the Seas will then homeport at Cape Liberty in summer 2015 for Bermuda sailings. In winter 2015, Cape Liberty will be the homeport for Quantum of the Seas’ sister-ship Anthem of the Seas.

Every time a cruise ship docks at Cape Liberty Cruise Port, $1.5 million is spent at and in the surrounding areas of the port. The facilities generate an estimated $500,000 per year to the City of Bayonne through a local parking tax instituted in 2008. Furthermore, the cruise industry helps New Jersey generate $390 million annually and employs more than 7,000 residents. The terminal received 381,894 revenue passengers and 67 cruise ship calls in 2013.