US. A new report by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has called for 56 to 70 new cruise terminals in the US over the next 15 years, in order to keep up with cruise industry growth.
The International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) has endorsed the study, which also states more efficient planning and consolidation is required of federal inspection agency facilities at cruise ports. Spaces for immigration and other government agencies are usually used on a temporary basis, making the requirements sometimes excessive or duplicated, causing delays for passengers. And sometimes the spaces are not used, said AAPA.
According to the study “The Impact of Federal Inspection Service Facilities at Cruise Terminals,” conducted for the AAPA by Bermello Ajamil & Partners, current design guidelines will require US$150 million to US$300 million in construction costs to cope with forecast growth.
Over the next three years, US seaports have already planned 14 terminals in their capital improvement programmes. Currently, immigration and other inspection space accounts for approximately 23% to 30% of the total area at each cruise facility.
The report said that the North American passenger cruise industry had an average annual growth rate of +8.4% over the last decade, with ICCL member cruise lines bringing into service over 22 new ships from 2003 to 2006.
