Cruise company SSA Marine, along with holding company Slip Knott LLC, has unveiled plans—and a website promoting the plans—for a new cruise port in Manatee County, just south of the Tampa Bay area and near Bradenton.
Tampa Bay Times reported that the port would be built on roughly 300 acres of land known as the Knott-Cowen tract, on the seaward side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This area is environmentally sensitive, but the company said the port is needed to accommodate the newer mega-sized cruise ships that cannot sail under the Skyway.
“Our new port will complement existing cruise activities in the region by being able to service the newer, larger, low-emissions cruise vessels that would otherwise be unable to visit due to the height restrictions of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. With cruise ships continuing to modernize, the region will be well positioned to align with and support the cruise industry’s future growth,” said the company.
The company also acknowledged the environmental issues, noting that “central to this project is our commitment to environmental stewardship.” SSA Marine said that it recently acquired the adjacent 710-acre Rattlesnake Key, which it described as a treasured local community asset that has long been the subject of concern regarding potential future commercial development.
“Our intent in purchasing the property is to remove any possibility of private commercialization and ensure its conservation. We look forward to working closely with local officials, residents, and environmental leaders in the months ahead to discuss how best to preserve the natural character of this special property,” the website explained.
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