COVID-19 RESPONSE: Canaveral Port Authority’s Wayne Justice Provides an Update on Activities at Port Canaveral
By Space Coast Daily // March 27, 2020
Port Canaveral boat ramps are open and parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis
SPACE COAST DAILY TV EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Canaveral Port Authority Vice-Chairman Wayne Justice sat down with Giles Malone at the Space Coast Daily TV studios to discuss the latest developments at Port Canaveral regarding Coronavirus and provides an update on Cruise Terminal 3 construction.
BREVARD COUNTY • PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – Canaveral Port Authority Vice-Chairman Wayne Justice sat down with Giles Malone at the Space Coast Daily TV studios to discuss the latest developments at Port Canaveral regarding Coronavirus and provides an update on Cruise Terminal 3 construction.
With a futuristic design inspired by nearby Kennedy Space Center, CT-3 will welcome the 180,000-ton “XL-class” Mardi Gras, currently under construction in Finland.
With a maximum capacity of 6,500 passengers and about 2,000 crew members, the Mardi Gras will be the first North American-based cruise ship powered by liquefied natural gas when she goes into service in fall 2020.
At 180,000 tons, Mardi Gras will be nearly 35% bigger than Carnival’s just-unveiled Carnival Panorama, and the biggest new ship to debut from any line in 2020. It’ll be the seventh biggest cruise ship ever built.
The vessel also will be the first cruise ship to feature a roller coaster, which will be called BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster.
Currently, the Terminal is on pace to be completed in six weeks and the Carnival giant new flagship will begin revenue sailings on November 14.
Related Story:Port Canaveral Lists Open/Closed for Business Status of Restaurants, Stores in The Cove
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The Canaveral Port Authority is closely monitoring the COVID-19 developing situation, in line with recommendations from the CDC and the Florida Dept. of Health, and in response to guidance issued by Florida Governor DeSantis:
• Canaveral Port Authority employees who are able to telework are now doing so.
• The Port’s Purchasing Warehouse remains open for deliveries.
• The Exploration Tower and Jetty Park are closed until further notice.
• Port Canaveral operations are normal for inbound and outbound vessels. The U.S. Coast Guard has regulatory authority to control and/or deny all vessel “Notice of Arrivals” transiting to U.S. Ports.
• Port Canaveral boat ramps are open and parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Currently five cruise ships at lay berth at Port Canaveral.
These are Disney, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival cruise ships, which are generally homeported at Port Canaveral, and none of the vessels have passengers on board.
Area residents may see cruise ships entering and leaving the Port every few days. The cruise lines plan to cycle vessels from berth to off-shore allowing each ship to take on provisions while at berth.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is restricting all crewmember movements while vessels are docked in Port Canaveral.
Port Canaveral continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation and coordinate our efforts with federal, state and local government agencies – like the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Florida Dept. of Health (DOH) – to ensure we are doing everything to keep our employees and extended community safe, and well informed.
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