PORT OF PALM BEACH AND INLET EXPANSION
The Port of Palm Beach is a major commercial shipping enterprise located just off the northern tip of Palm Beach. Ships doing business at the Port navigate the Palm Beach Inlet passing by Palm Beach Island.
The Port of Palm Beach is seeking to increase revenues by widening and deepening the Palm Beach Inlet so larger vessels can dock at their facilities. A $2 million feasibility study is underway to gauge the impact of expanding the channel by 50 feet on each side and deepening it from 33 feet to 42 feet.
The Town of Palm Beach is opposed to inlet expansion. Elected officials and residents fear that increased shipping traffic would pose a serious threat to nearby communities, tropical marine life, and recreational swimmers, divers and boaters. Environmental impacts such as storm surges could result if the inlet is significantly enlarged. The Town also opposes the feasibility study.
Meanwhile, the Port is proposing the construction of a new inland port facility in western Palm Beach County where offloaded cargo from the expanded Port of Palm Beach could be stored and distributed.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!
Civic Association members are encouraged to comment on issues. These comments can be read by any visitor to our website but only members can comment at this time.
If you are a member of the Civic Association, enter your email address that you have given to the Civic Association and a password will be sent automatically to your email inbox. Once you have the password, you can enter comments on any Issue page. Return to the screen below and enter your email and the new password that was sent to you.
The Civic Association encourages thoughtful and civil viewpoints expressed about all sides of an issue. We do not accept anonymous or inappropriate comments. We will delete them. If you see such comments, please report them to us at MikeBrown@PalmBeachCivic.org
Sample Viewpoints:
#1: Inlet expansion presents a real danger to Palm Beach. The environmental impacts of such a project could be very harmful. Increased industrialization will undermine the exceptional quality of life that Palm Beach residents and visitors enjoy.
#2: Inlet expansion is critical to the future of the Port of Palm Beach. The Port is a major economic engine for Palm Beach County. It creates jobs and contributes to the vitality of the region. In a modern world with larger ships, the Port must provide better access if it hopes to survive.
MAKE A COMMENT BELOW