One company is pushing to build a brand-new cruise terminal in Tampa, Florida, that could accommodate larger ships.
SSA Marine, a marine terminal operator that's been around since 1949, said it's working with Tampa-based Slip Knott LLC on a multi-berth cruise port in Manatee County, according to the company's proposal.
The terminal would be built on a roughly 328-acre coastal property known as the Knott‑Cowen tract at the mouth of Tampa Bay next to the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge. If approved, construction would take three to five years.
Currently, only smaller ships, like Grandeur of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Carnival Paradise, Norwegian Star, Celebrity Constellation, and Margaritaville at Sea's Islander, can sail from Tampa due to the height restrictions of the Skyway Bridge. As such, a new cruise port on the seaward side of the bridge would allow larger, more innovative ships to call Tampa home.
"A new cruise port will complement existing cruise activities in the region by being able to accommodate the newer, larger, low-emissions cruise vessels that would otherwise be unable to visit due to the height restrictions of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge," reads the proposal's website.
"As cruise ships continue to modernize, the region will be well positioned to align with and support the cruise industry’s future growth. Additionally, locating a new cruise port on the seaward side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge could serve as a valuable community asset in the event of extreme weather or other emergency situations."
Read more: I cruised Royal Caribbean from Tampa for the first time
Tampa's new port project is in the early planning phase and has not been officially approved yet
Although the project is still in the early planning phase, meaning it is subject to zoning and other necessary approvals, initial work to identify and evaluate potential environmental, traffic, noise, and public access considerations has already begun.
The website notes that "these topics will be addressed in greater detail as part of the approval process, and opportunities for public input will be provided before any final decisions are made."
Public input will also be an important part of the process, including hearings with the Manatee County Planning Commission and the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners.
SSA Marine Division is committed to environmental stewardship as a central part of this cruise port project. The company recently acquired the adjacent 710-acre Rattlesnake Key property through its subsidiary, the Rattlesnake Key Preservation Company, for $18 million.
They aim to prevent private commercialization and ensure long-term conservation. Rattlesnake Key is one of the most intact natural landscapes at the mouth of Tampa Bay and is known for its expansive mangrove forests, bird rookeries, shallow-water wetlands, and fish nursery habitat.
Moving on, SSA Marine Division estimates that the project could have a significant economic impact, with the construction investment of the project estimated to generate more than 31,000 jobs in industries directly and indirectly related to the port in the state and region.
Once operational, the new terminal is projected to support over 13,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs and generate roughly $40 million per year in tax revenue for the county and school district, while contributing billions to the state and regional economy.
Port Tampa Bay had record-breaking numbers in 2025
The Western Florida cruise port welcomed over 1.6 million cruise passengers in 2025, along with over 262,000 shipping containers, Spectrum Bay News 9 reported.
Port Tampa Bay is in the midst of working on its $1.2 billion "Master Plan 2030" vision, which includes building warehouses, expanding terminals, and even constructing a brand-new passenger terminal.
"For us, it’s playing, maintaining the maritime industry, protecting it, allowing it to grow, prosper and integrating ourselves with our future plans and the growth of the region — the city of Tampa," Port Tampa Bay Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Raul Alfonso told Spectrum News.
