Canaveral Port Authority CEO Delivers Annual ‘State of the Port’ Address
By Space Coast Daily // November 21, 2024
Port’s total earned revenues came in at $191 million
BREVARD COUNTY • PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – Canaveral Port Authority CEO Capt. John Murray today delivered his annual State of the Port address providing a comprehensive recap of Port Canaveral’s 2024 performance with revenue growth in all business sectors and a strong outlook projected for the coming fiscal year.
The Port’s total earned revenues came in at $191 million with cruise operations contributing $156 million, cargo $23 million and non-ship operations at $12 million.
“Port Canaveral continues to be a strategic economic driver for creating jobs, helping local businesses to grow and prosper, and bringing more guests to experience all that our Port community has to offer,” stated Capt. John Murray. “We are proud of our growth and the collective success of our region.”
A Highly Successful Year
Addressing an audience of nearly 250 business and community leaders, elected officials and Port partners, Capt. Murray highlighted that the Port’s diverse operations – from cruise and cargo to recreation, commercial fishing, military, and aerospace operations – are unique in the maritime industry.
Building upon its distinction as the world’s second busiest cruise port, Port Canaveral handled a record 7.6 million passenger movements – a 12-percent increase over the previous year – with 13 homeported ships, 911 cruise ship calls, and 914,000 vehicles parked. Over the past year, the Port added new parking facilities and an upgraded parking processing system, making the Port even more convenient to guests and more attractive to cruise partners.
“Cruise continues to be a significant segment of our business portfolio with some of the newest and largest ships in the world based at Port Canaveral. This speak volumes to the confidence our cruise partners have in our ability to consistently deliver exceptional results for their guests,” Capt. Murray added.
Cargo operations made significant contributions, as well, with the 728 ship calls discharging 6.6 million tons of critical commodities, including 3.6 million tons of transportation fuels, 1.8 million tons of aggregates, and 732,000 tons of lumber and forest products.
Other highlights of the past year included the deployment of a second mobile harbor crane and renovation of North Cruise Berth 4.
The Port’s continued commitment to environmental sustainability included earning Green Marine recertification, piloting the National Stormwater Trust’s new smart pond technology that automatically adjusts water levels during severe weather and serving as a local sponsor for the $100 million federally funded U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sand Bypass and Brevard County beach nourishment projects as well as maintenance dredging.
A Bright Future
Port Canaveral is anticipating another robust business year in FY 2025 that includes growth in both cruise and cargo sectors with total projected revenues of $211 million.
The Port’s cruise business will grow to include 16 homeported ships with a projected 8.4 million passenger movements, 1,030 ship calls and multiple ship upgrades and exchanges, including Royal Caribbean’s new Icon-class LNG-powered Star of the Seas and the addition of two new cruise partners for the Port – Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises, each homeporting ships at Port Canaveral for the first time.
“We are tremendously proud to be an integral part of this community for more than seven decades. We will continue to work hard, making sound business decisions and investments in our Port that will translate into economic prosperity for our region and the State of Florida. In the end, our success is their success,” Capt. Murray noted.
