TOURISM—Settlement With Group Paves Way for Cruise Ship Terminal

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An out-of-court settlement between cruise ship operator Carnival Corp. and the Surfrider Foundation has cleared the way for Carnival to build a terminal adjacent to the Queen Mary in Long Beach.

Under terms of the settlement, Carnival has agreed not to oppose the removal of some of the 1.5-mile breakwater that rims Long Beach Harbor.

The Foundation, a supporter of lowering the breakwater to bring more surf to local beaches, filed suit last December in Los Angeles Superior Court against Carnival’s plans, claiming the proposed terminal would have a negative environmental impact without the breakwater reconfiguration.

Carnival, based in Miami, received approval from the Long Beach City Council and the city’s harbor commission last fall to construct a 40,000-square-foot terminal on the Queen Mary property that is located across Queensway Bay from downtown Long Beach. The $35 million project has been designed to include an 1,100-foot dock and a five-story parking structure.

Under terms of its agreement with the Foundation, Carnival has agreed to donate $60,000 toward local wetland restoration and a wetland educational program at the nearby Aquarium of the Pacific.

“We settled because we accomplished our main goal of getting (Carnival) not to oppose the lowering of the breakwater,” said Dr. Gordon LaBedz, head of the Foundation’s Carnival Cruise Task Force.

Carnival spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz said the cruise line chose to build its terminal at the Queen Mary because it offers a variety of activities for passengers who often arrive hours before a ship is scheduled to depart. Carnival currently operates out of a terminal at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro.

“When guests come into San Pedro, they don’t really have anything to do if they arrive early from out of town to board our ships,” de la Cruz said. “In Long Beach, there is shopping available near the Queen Mary, the Queen Mary itself, or they can visit the aquarium, which isn’t far away.”

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