| Comments: |
Mr. Dorsey and others,
I think there is some confusion about much of the opposition to having a new cruise ship terminal or two at Kaiser Point.
For those who believe that the main opposition is because of the lengths of the ships, it really isn't the case.
It's really about the numbers of humans who will embark and disembark the ships and travel through San Pedro as opposed to visiting it for a time.
Just how many taxis, shuttle vans, buses, and other vehicles will have to pass through the heart of downtown San Pedro dashing to and from ships berthed so far from the freeway?
And it is also about the number of passengers those ships can hold. Today, the Monarch of the Seas has replaced the Mariner of the Seas, here in San Pedro. The jump in passenger numbers was not staggering, 2,800+ to just over 3,100 passengers. But lets look at what will eventually be in store on the oceans.
http://www.cybercruises.com/orderbook.htm
Royal Caribbean International
Oasis of the Seas (5,400 - Autumn 2009) Aker Yards
Allure of the Seas (5,400 - August 2010) Aker Yards
Fourth Freedom class ship (3,600 - Late 2011) Aker Yards (Letter of intent)
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Epic (First F3 Class ship) (4,200 - May 2010) STX Europe's French shipyard in Saint Nazaire
Disney Cruise Lines
Disney Dream (1,250 staterooms - 2011) Meyer Werft (Each ship is expected to carry 4,400 passengers)
Disney Fantasy (1,250 staterooms - 2012) Meyer Werft
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Eclipse (2,850 - Summer 2010) Meyer Werft
Fourth Solstice-class ship (2,850 - Fall 2011) Meyer Werft
Fifth Solstice-class ship (2,850 - Fall 2012) Meyer Werft (Letter of intent)
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Dream (3,608 - October 2009) Fincantieri
Carnival Magic (3,652 - June 2011) Fincantieri
The Oasis of the Seas already plies the oceans. It has a 3-acre park inside it and advertises itself as having great manuverability.
In discussing how ship Captains do not 'LIKE' backing up or down a harbor, please consider this;
The Oasis of the Seas, the largest passenger cruise ship ever built has three 'azipods' under the stern end of its keel and three bow thrusters. That means
that the ship can actually turn 360 degrees without moving forward or backwards. It means that simply turning the three azipods 180 degrees around and using
bow thrusters for manuvering, it can move in and out of any port with only tugboats standing by and a well-trained pilot guiding it.
If new cruise ship terminals are built at Kaiser Point and the permanent barrier is erected at the west side of the slip, ships must back out of that. If the second berth is built, ships mooring there will either have to back in or out of that berth because there is not enough turning room in that area.
It is also becoming apparent that POLA is now suggesting one outer harbor terminal. Disney has indicated it wants an outer harbor terminal even though the ship that will homeport here is the smaller of the ships and can use the west turning basin. So it appears that if POLA Commissioners approve just one terminal, it will be used only by Disney and nobody else, if Disney has its way.
Does our community wish to be pushed around by a mouse? I think not.
I can consider working on concepts for an outer harbor terminal on the east side of the main channel but that means Terminal Island. It would be tough getting revenue into downtown.
The Freedom of the Seas has called on San Pedro a number of times. it backs up the main channel and goes forward when it departs. The Queen Mary II does the same. The Queen Victoria hasn't visited.....yet and the newest Queen Elizabeth is still not built yet. Those three ships are puny by passenger number standards with only about 2,092 passengers per ship.
The next time a Saturday rolls around and three ships call on berths 87-93, please go and watch the traffic mayhem just near the freeway. Then consider a 5,400-passenger ship miles from the freeway exits and all the taxis, shuttle vans, buses, and cars who choose not to use parking lots close to the older terminal.
Thank you |
