Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet have approved a new 25-year lease for the cruise ship port at Pier B in Key West. This decision will enable the port to accommodate larger cruise ships. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recommended the approval of this lease.
The new lease formalizes a Temporary Use Agreement that DEP had approved in July 2022, which expanded the lease boundaries to prevent obstruction at Truman Harbor's entrance. Additionally, DEP has added approximately 50 feet to accommodate ship width and about 42 feet for ship length.
According to DEP's recommendation, "As a whole, the cruise ship industry brings billions of dollars of benefit to the state. More specifically, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council’s latest estimate indicated that over $2.4 billion was spent by over five million visitors, which translates to an $1.8 billion economic impact." The statement further highlighted that the industry supports local economies by creating both temporary and permanent jobs within Key West, Monroe County, and Florida.