Mega Yacht Facility in Fort Pierce

I have been following a lot on a story for the past 6 years of when Burger and Lurssen wanted to build a mega yacht facility in Ft. Pierce Florida (115 miles north of FT. Lauderdale for those who don't know.) It was going to be called World Port and the company wanted to build and service up to 300 foot yachts. Unfortunately there was a land owner involved that owns part of the port who did not care for the World Port and wanted to have a cargo port instead so he could import concrete. The city counsel did not like that idea and wanted the mega yacht facility but could not move forward with his land in the way. The fighting been going on now and Burger/Lurssen drop out saying that they could not deal with it any longer. The land owner is still pressing on with the cargo idea inspite of it all and the city is fighting even harder for the mega yacht facility. This is part of a news article that was just released in the TCpalm.com paper.

Caravan plans to block Fort Pierce port growth

By ALEXI HOWK
alexi.howk@scripps.com
July 24, 2006
FORT PIERCE — In an attempt to strengthen local opposition to Lloyd Bell's plan to expand cargo operations within the Port of Fort Pierce, city and county leaders, as well as an organized group of citizens, are heading to Tallahassee.
A parade of mini-vans will shuttle environmentalists and anyone else who would like to attend up to the Capitol for an Aug. 1 meeting to urge Gov. Jeb Bush and members of his cabinet to deny Bell's application for a submerged lands lease at Berth 4.



Bell, under his company Destin Beach Inc., is requesting authorization to operate a commercial cargo facility consisting mainly of rocks and other hardened aggregate materials used to build cement buildings. Bell is the largest landowner at the port with 67 acres.
Ships with an average length of 225 feet, 36-foot beam and 18-foot draft would operate out of the facility, according to Department of Environmental Protection records. Tugboats would be required to maneuver the vessels.

Local officials and residents say expanding cargo operations at the port would further damage the Indian River Lagoon and its habitat and mar the city's image. Further, they say it's inconsistent with the county's comprehensive plan and port master plan adopted in 2002, in which the community agreed it wanted to see a five-star hotel, megayacht industry and retail development instead of "dirty cargo operations" at the port.

Bell said he plans to attend the Aug. 1 meeting and would sue anyone who stands in his way. He accused the opposition of being part of a conspiracy backed by monopolistic interests.
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I had found it surprising how many people did not know all this had been going on while just asking others in the industry if they knew any thing about this subject.