American Cruise Lines signs agreement for visits; dredging scheduled for June

Staff told the committee that American Cruise Lines (ACL) returned a signed agreement and is expected to call at the marina seven times this year as part of a trial season.

“They’ll be here seven times this year and I think we’re kind of going to use this one to ... figure it out,” a staff member said, describing the season as a learning year for docking logistics and operations. Staff said ACL would handle its own trash and that the committee did not impose a passenger fee this season.

Dredging plans: staff said dredging is slated to start June 1 and that crews will stage at Amise for the month, aiming to complete work by June 30. The contractor plans to start at the mouth of the river and focus on the shipping channel rather than extend into federal shipping areas; maps and soundings were referenced to show the limit of work.

Why it matters: cruise visits could increase marina activity and have implications for traffic, parking and dock use; dredging is time-sensitive and was scheduled to avoid prolonged interference with navigation. Staff said dredgers will work intensively in the first week then taper operations so they should not block the river for extended periods.

Next steps: staff will finalize the ACL docking plan and share details with the committee as the season progresses.