By RON BRINSON
For the U.S. maritime industry, the containership business has tanked in the great recession. That's been painfully apparent at the Port of Charleston.
But the ocean cruise business has been remarkably resilient to global economic storms. The industry is growing and refining its 'home porting' patterns and styles. The Port of Charleston and Regional Charleston's tourism industry now have a remarkable opportunity.
It's not a question of whether Charleston's cruise business expands; contracts are signed and more ships are on the way. A College of Charleston research team has concluded the port's cruise business will generate $37 million in direct revenues in 2010. That relates to 400 local jobs. More specifically, the researchers reported, an average cruise ship call brings $530,000 in direct local business income.
That's good business, but to sustain it our port needs a modern, efficient and secure new terminal to replace its cracker-box facility at Union Pier.
The State Ports Authority is responding and so far, it's doing everything right. A very public development planning project is underway. The big public goals: a state-of-the-art passenger terminal, with smoother vehicular traffic flows, and a symbiotic interface at the foot of Market Street. Anyone who makes the effort can offer a better idea or register criticism in public meetings or through Internet postings. Already, the SPA has been convinced to expand the scope of its work and the project now will address all of Union Pier, not just the passenger terminal.
The Authority is working closely with the City of Charleston. It would seem that what started as a cruise terminal project is one sensible step from being linked in a more comprehensive master planning exercise that would include Charleston's Calhoun Street to Concord Street waterfront corridor. But accommodating the cruise ship industry is an immediate priority — for both the port and the city.
Not surprisingly, the Coastal Conservation League has cast its standard-issue pox: 'There is rising concern about the style of economic development that will arise in response to a doubling and tripling of cruise tourism, in contrast to the quiet antiquity that Charleston's downtown holds dear, as well as historic tourism, fishing, and shellfish industries that rely upon the unique nature of Charleston.'
Read that and you'd think the cruise industry is lurking in the marsh, plotting to deliver an environmental body blow on historic Charleston. The League's position also warns of '... the visual spectacle of large cruise ships at berth that do not fit the scale or context of historic downtown Charleston ...'
A 'visual spectacle'? Are the large container ships and 'car carriers' currently calling our port also objectionable 'spectacles'?
If so, the 'spectacle' is about to get bigger. Those very large post-Panamax containerships the Port of Charleston hopes to attract are huge. Actually, one is scheduled to call at Charleston in mid-February. So, shall we have a look and decide if we want to see it again?
Hard to imagine anyone saying a big modern ship, obeying all laws, is an imposing 'spectacle.' Ships are fascinating — and look like jobs and money to most of us.
Historic Charleston is a unique port city. But it has never been so fragile as to concern itself with the 'appearance' of calling vessels of any size or shape. Lest we forget, Charleston is an ambitious 'port' city. The port defines its past, and we are hopeful, a large part of its future. The good folks who object to the view of modern ships — well, they might be happier in Charlotte.
Smart master planning will address most issues raised in the CCL manifesto. And the cruise industry will reassure us. Ship operators see environmental management as good business. New ships feature state-of-the-art waste disposal and treatment. The industry generally has a good record complying with international regulations, and has been active in the formulation of new 'best practice' standards.
U.S. ports compete vigorously for ocean passenger business. The good news is that the industry has identified Charleston as a nice fit for its 'home porting' strategies. Regional Charleston offers a matrix of authentic history and a showplace of architectural treasure. We've got good hotels and world class restaurants, too. Beyond the economic benefits documented by the College of Charleston team, a vibrant cruise operation will bring more folks to enjoy – and promote — the Lowcountry's tourism attractions.
South Carolina's unemployment rate soars in double figures. Sure, we now anticipate the big-bang economic lift of Boeing's arrival, and the nascent wind- turbine industry at the old Navy yard seems promising. But while we wait, we can't afford the luxury of ignorance about regional Charleston's economic dependence on tourism. As one business leader declared last week, 'We need all the economy we can make!'
The Ports Authority's master planning exercise is economic development in the making. It blends the interests of longshoremen, hotel and restaurant workers, cab and mule buggy drivers — and every business large and small in the tourism sector. There is good reason to be confident this will evolve as a major community success — economically and environmentally.
Ron Brinson is a former associate editor of this newspaper. From 1979-86, he served as president/CEO of the American Association of Port Authorities. He retired in 2003 after 17 years as president/CEO of the Port of New Orleans. He can be reached at rbrin1013@gmail.com.