Could Key West Compromise On Cruise Ships?

Above, the Majesty of the Seas docked at Key West in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When the cruise ship I was on, Majesty of the Seas by Royal Caribbean, docked at Key West, Florida in 2019, I had no idea that a battle was brewing over cruise ship traffic.

There are some who want a reduction of cruise ship traffic and put forth ballot referendums to cut them. Any referendums passed are voided by state law, some contend.

Now, there's talk of compromise.

According to Keys Weekly:

City lawmakers changed the course of Key West’s cruise ship conversation on Oct. 5, introducing words like, “compromise,” “mediation,” “stakeholders,” “discussion” and “input from all sides” — ideas that had been raised by some business owners 19 months ago.

Commissioner Greg Davila suggested a meeting of all stakeholders, including Safer Cleaner Ships, which led the voter-approved 95% reduction in cruise ship traffic, and the owners of Pier B, the privately owned cruise dock that has given the city 25% of its cruise ship revenue for nearly 30 years. City Attorney Shawn Smith has repeatedly warned about a costly lawsuit from Pier B if the city infringes on its business and revenue.

“If we can get Safer Cleaner Ships in the same room as Pier B, that’d be good,” Commissioner Greg Davila said. “I don’t think discussion is ever a bad thing.”

Commissioner Sam Kaufman said, “I think we should invite all parties to formal mediation,” while Commissioner Billy Wardlow said what has been on several people’s minds for months, “I know we can do something (to regulate ships) at Mallory Pier and the Outer Mole, but Pier B being private property is different. I wouldn’t want someone telling me what I can do with my property.”

Ships agent John Wells, who founded Caribe Nautical more than 25 years ago, has estimated that if the city turns large ships away from the two docks it controls — Mallory and Outer Mole — and allows them to continue visiting Pier B, there would be a 60% to 65% reduction in Key West’s annual cruise ship traffic, compared to the 95% reduction that would occur at all three docks.

“We want to satisfy the will of the people, but we have other people — including the state — who could take action against us,” Commissioner Clayton Lopez said. “I am always in favor of getting as much information and input as we can.”

This will likely drag on for months, if not years before settlements can be reached. Get out your popcorn, folks.

To read more, go here.