It has become increasingly evident that large cruise ships
harm historic port cities.
So it is with great excitement that Charleston Communities
for Cruise Control (C4) announces that it has joined forces
with No Grandi Navi (No Big Boats) in Venice and the Key
West Committee for Responsible Tourism as part of an
international coalition working toward reducing the negative
impacts of too-large cruise ships in order to protect historic
port cities.
Recently a federal judge decreed that Charleston deserves
to have the Corps of Engineers study environmental and
preservation impacts -- and consider alternative locations -before permitting a new cruise ship terminal at Union Pier,
adjacent to historic districts and residential neighborhoods.
Groups in Venice and Key West have organized to roll back
the negative effects of more and bigger cruise ships in their
cities. Charleston remains on the Watch Lists of the National
Trust for Historic Preservation and the World Monuments
Fund as an endangered place if cruise ship visits are not
managed with necessary sensitivity to their impacts on
scale, congestion and quality of life.
The cruise ship industry is growing rapidly, both in number
of cruises and size of cruise ships. News reports regularly
cover the problems associated with cruise ship
operations. The “Fantasy” is known to be the oldest and
smallest cruise ship in Carnival's fleet. Ships are only
getting bigger, and the port is investing in a new terminal
and has bought a new boarding ramp, all with the capacity
for more than 3,500 passenger ships.
Charleston Communities for Cruise Control (C4) advocates
for the regulation of cruise operations, just as all other
tourism mechanisms are regulated in Charleston, as are all
other businesses in Charleston. Our goal is balanced and
equitable co-existence.
We believe our city is more visionary than the current design
for the new cruise terminal: a waterfront with nine acres of
asphalt parking for more than 1000 cars, plus passenger
bussing and supply trucks—all to accommodate a turnstiletype of tourism in which the cruise passengers simply use
our waterfront for a launching pad to go
elsewhere. Alternative locations should at least be studied.
Onshore power should be incorporated in the new terminal
design now. The port, Carnival and the City should work
with residents now to address these issues.
Asking that these issues be addressed are not just the
Preservation Society of Charleston, the Coastal Conservation
League, Historic Ansonborough Neighborhood Association
and the Charlestown Neighborhood Association, but also
Historic Charleston Foundation, the Charleston County
Medical Society, the South Carolina Medical Association, the
Post and Courier, the Charleston Mercury, _______,
_______, _________, the National Trust for Historic
Preservation, the World Monuments Fund, and _________.
Charleston has been named the #1 tourist destination for
the past three years. We point out that the key word in this
high honor is “destination.” These are people that want to
come stay, see and learn about Charleston. At risk is losing
those tourists who come to see and spend time in
Charleston, support businesses, restaurants and hotels….
Facilitating unregulated cruise ships from Charleston at
Union Pier with a poorly-designed plan could very well
diminish Charleston's standing in the eyes if those many
visitors who cherish its intimate scale, uniqueness,
walkability, and historic ambience.
Charleston Communities for Cruise Control, supported by a
large number of residents and visitors, has advocated
reasonable regulations of cruise ships and consideration of
alternative locations for a cruise ship terminal. With our
new international coalition in place we hope to encourage
other port cities to adopt a Cruise Ship Code of Conduct,
such as the one we drafted for Charleston.
Port cities are sharing their history and ambiance with cruise
passengers. Cruise lines should work with these same
cities, not just “use” them as a means of attracting
passengers. We are all in this together. We ALL should
benefit, not just the cruise lines.