Home > All Issues > Preserving Public Lands > A Cruise Terminal in the Timucuan Preserve?

A Cruise Terminal in the Timucuan Preserve?

by Linda Bremer |

In 2005, the Jacksonville Port Authority proposed placement of a cruise ship terminal to accomodate three cruise ships squarely in the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve.

It's a fact -  The location of the proposed cruise terminal at Pine Island, a privately owned property on the St. Johns River squarely in the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve would cost the port more money than they would make.  A coalition of northside residents, boaters, environmental groups, and neighborhood associations claim that this is only part of the problem with putting a terminal for three cruise ships in the Timucuan Preserve.

The Timucuan Preserve, the only public lands in Northeast Florida owned and administered by the federal parks system, is a natural draw for visitors to the area who want to see the historic Kingsley home and archeological sites, the unequalled beauty of the marshes and barrier islands, and spend a day paddling, fishing or birdwatching.  The 46,000 acre preserve hosted over 991,000 visitors in 2003. Their contributions to the economy of the area was over $66 million dollars in 2001.  Part of the ecological wonder of the park is the protected viewshed, the vistas of natural scenery unobstructed by urban or industrial structures. When you are in the Preserve, you feel surrounded by the sound and sight of the whispering marsh grasses and the cries of the circling ospreys.

Now, imagine this preserve with a cruise ship terminal in place. Cruise ships are large. New ships attempt to cram more passengers in less space by making ships taller; too tall to go under many bridges.  Cruise terminals are industrial areas with security facilities, lighting, large parking lots. They are serviced by vendors, waste removal operators, port officials and others. The area proposed for a permanent terminal is miles down a scenic highway in the hurricane hazard zone.  Traffic along Heckscher Drive, constrained by wetlands and water,  would be greatly increased with the 3000-5000 passengers per cruise as well as the service trucks, port officials, and vendors. Finally, any accidents no matter how small, with sewage and solid waste removal or polluted ballast water will threaten the aquatic preserve and the important fish life of the St. Johns River.

At this  time, the Port's board members have backed away from the plan, prefering to table the idea while they investigate other locations for the cruise terminal that will not cost so much.

Additionally: read cruiseterminaldec2008.pdf 

Representing the Mayport Civic Association and Mayport residents is the Public Trust Law,  please read and contribute http://www.publictrustlaw.org/index.php/Mayport.html