Massive Cruise Ship Port Proposed Near Sunshine Skyway Bridge

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — A development team hopes to build a large-scale cruise ship port near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, according to reports.

Tampa-based Slip Knott LLC has filed plans with Manatee County to develop a port for the Knott-Cowen Tract, a 328-acre piece of land bordering the north and south sides of Interstate 275 just east of the bridge, the Bradenton Herald reported.

The company is partnering with cruise ship terminal operator SSA Marine, based in Seattle, on the multiberth cruise port project, the Tampa Bay Times said.

“A new cruise port will complement existing cruise activities in the region by being able to accommodate the newer, larger, low-emissions cruise vessels that would otherwise be unable to visit due to the height restrictions of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge,” according to a website promoting the cruise port development. “As cruise ships continue to modernize, the region will be well positioned to align with and support the cruise industry’s future growth.”

Developers estimate that once the project is complete, it will bring more than 13,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs to the area, and generate $40 million each year in tax revenue for the county and school district.

If approved by the county, construction could take three to five years.

The property is adjacent to the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, one of the Tampa Bay Estuary’s most environmentally sensitive and ecologically diverse areas, reports said.

SSA Marine recently bought the nearby 710-acre Rattlesnake Key as part of its “commitment to environmental stewardship,” the project’s website said.

“We recognize Rattlesnake Key is a treasured local community asset that has long been the subject of concern regarding potential future commercial development, and our intent in purchasing the property is to remove any possibility of private commercialization and ensure its conservation,” according to the website.

Some residents are concerned about the environmental impact of the proposed project.

“Bringing in a large-scale industrial facility ... would certainly raise concerns for our water quality, critical habitat for fish and wildlife, and the recreational value for residents and tourists in the Tampa Bay community that depend on a healthy estuary,” Peter Clark, president and founder of the restoration nonprofit Tampa Bay Watch, told the Tampa Bay Times.

A Change.org petition started by Manatee County resident Cory McKeever and opposing the project had more than 9,600 signatures as of Friday morning.

“The environmental impact of a cruise port is far-reaching. Studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency indicate that the average cruise ship emits the same volume of pollutants as a million cars daily. Our pristine waters are at risk of becoming polluted, jeopardizing water quality and public health,” the petition reads.

Another petition, from the Suncoast Waterkeeper, has more than 2,500 signatures as of Friday morning.

“This massive industrial cruise terminal threatens the health of Tampa Bay, Terra Ceia Bay, Sarasota Bay, and connected waterways that sustain our environment, economy, and way of life,” the petition reads, adding, “Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve is one of Florida’s most environmentally sensitive areas, home to seagrass beds, wetlands, and critical wildlife habitat. Construction, cruise ship traffic, and port operations would cause irreversible harm across the watershed.”

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