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Fleischmann Pier reportedly operational; Emerald Princess named home port with shuttle and ferry plans
Summary
Staff said Fleischmann Pier is substantially complete and operational; Emerald Princess will use the pier as a home port for a season expected to carry 25,000–30,000 passengers, prompting plans for expanded shuttle service and negotiations for ferry links to West Point.
Agency official reported that construction at Fleischmann Pier is substantially complete, the pier is operational and the Emerald Princess cruise vessel has been licensed as a home port for the season.
"The pier is operational," the presenter said, describing a successful fall trial that drew roughly 1,000 riders over several weekends; the Emerald Princess has since contacted the city to operate the pier as a home port for a full season and expects to carry between 25,000 and 30,000 passengers, the presenter said. The license agreement includes harbor-master duties assigned to the vessel operator and plans for increased shuttle service to carry passengers from downtown; staff are also negotiating a ferry service with West Point for additional weekday and event traffic.
Staff said they do not expect to ask the IDA for funding for the current arrangement so far, and that some small adjustments (pilings and docking calibrations) are being finished this week. The board discussed shuttle capacity, potential for a second shuttle and longer-term ideas like community-owned solar on nearby city property, though staff noted wet soils and floodplain constraints for some parcels.
The board instructed staff to coordinate city departments (fire, police, public works, planning) on pier operations and to monitor passenger flows and transit needs as the season begins.
