The Port Canaveral Commission has unanimously approved an $80-85 million port expansion project to feature a new 185,000 square foot cruise passenger terminal. The terminal will be located on the south side of the harbor in the restaurant/retail area and will allow visitors to walk to port destinations such as the newly-completed 22,000 square-foot Exploration Tower or depart Port Canaveral to see other area attractions. The terminal will allow for the largest cruise ships currently sailing as well as the 6,000-passenger ships set to debut in the coming years. Construction on the new cruise terminal complex is expected to begin in January and scheduled to open in November 2014. Currently, Royal Caribbean, NCL, Disney and Carnival Cruise Lines sail to and from Port Canaveral.
The United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently held crew members may seek punitive damages in personal injury claims if they can prove the ship owner’s misconduct in causing a ship to become unseaworthy was willful, wanton or reckless. This decision is one of an emerging trend to provide injured maritime workers with a wide range of damages as well as to fashion a way to dissuade employers and ship owners from engaging in reckless conduct which is likely to result in injury.
Several media outlets report a passenger aboard the Norwegian Breakaway fractured his neck while the cruise ship was docket at Port Canaveral, Florida on Tuesday, October 5th. These same reports indicate a trauma alert was issued for second passenger who also suffered a fracture. Launched this year, the 1,063 foot Norwegian Breakaway is operated by Miami based NCL and is currently conducting weekly Florida and Caribbean cruises from New York City.
A Miami Federal Court has allowed a passenger assaulted by fellow passengers to bring a negligence claim against Carnival Cruises. In this case, a passenger cruising aboard the Carnival Pride was beat up by other passengers who were over served alcohol aboard the ship. The plaintiff claimed to have suffered severe permanent injuries to his face and jaw from the attack.
A 52-year-old passenger was medically evacuated from the Carnival cruise ship Sensation last Wednesday after falling in one of the ship’s elevators. The accident happened around 1:30 p.m. when the ship was near Palm Beach, Florida. Sources say the woman sustained injuries to both her legs. Her condition is currently unknown.
