Work is progressing on a $39 million capital improvement project to rebuild Port Canaveral’s North Cargo Berth 4 (NCB4). The project involves removing the existing over-the-water pier, which has been out of service for nearly 10 years, and replacing it with a 981-foot-long multi-purpose, multi-user wharf. North Cargo Berth 4 is adjacent to the newly rebuilt North Cargo Berth 3 (NCB3), an 880-foot-long multi-purpose berth that went into service in June 2023.
The NCB4 renovation project is complex due to its proximity to NCB3, an active cargo berth with adjacent uplands. Demolition of the old NCB4 began in April 2023 and continues with the extraction of existing concrete piles. The first phase of construction began in September 2023 and is ongoing. Bulkhead piles and A-frame piles have been installed, and work has commenced on installing nearly 400 concrete piles.
Additionally, the area between NCB3 and NCB4 will include a designated space to securely tie down mobile harbor cranes during severe weather events. The berth will also be equipped with plug-in receptacles to accommodate either of the Port’s two mobile harbor cranes, LMH #11 or LMH #12.
When completed, the modern bulkhead design of North Cargo Berth 4 will be able to accommodate a wide range of vessels and cargo discharge operations. Port Canaveral Senior Project Manager Veronica Narvaez-Lugo is leading this complex berth renovation project in collaboration with Tampa-based Orion Marine Construction. The rebuilt berth is anticipated to be substantially complete in Q4 FY’24.
North Cargo Berth 4 and North Cargo Berth 3 are critical components of the Port Canaveral Berth Rehabilitation and Modernization project within the Port’s five-year capital improvement investment plan. Modern resilient bulkhead designs and multi-purpose berth spaces built to contemporary standards are essential for maintaining the Port’s competitive edge in the global marketplace and supporting Central Florida's economic prosperity.