Port of Corpus Christi commissioners will conduct a feasibility study to learn how the area could cash in on the cruise ship industry.
The conversation of bringing cruise lines to Corpus Christi has been a topic for many years.
With the widening and deepening of the ship channel happening in years to come, Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Corpus Christi Sean Strawbridge says the logical place to dock a cruise ship would be at the Ortiz Center.
However, Strawbridge says, because of the size of Corpus Christi International Airport, this area would not be a place where would ships set sail.
“We don’t have sufficient air service to be able to load and unload fully crews ships and our estimation if there were more air service here we would certainly think that would have a positive impact on our ability to attract cruise lines,” Strawbridge said.
Rather, he predicts the Corpus Christi port would be an excursion stop for cruise ships.
That’s described as a place where cruise ships stop for a few hours to allow their guests to disembark from the ship and explore a new city.
The study will examine the feasibility of both Corpus Christi and Port Aransas as excursion stops.
The research will also look at both cities’ appeal to tourist. It will examine that both have the infrastructure to handle a large influx of visitors at one time.
The feasibility study is expected to be completed in about three months.
