Mobile, Alabama recently got good news. Airbus is building an assembly plant there and economic spirits are high. Looking to the future the city would welcome becoming a cruise ship homeport again, after losing Carnival Cruise Lines Elation not long ago.
Over in Charleston, South Carolina, those for and against cruise ships are battling it out right now as non-profit organizations want to get rid of their cruise ship in an ongoing disagreement over zoning and local laws.
Maybe the two cities should put their heads together and figure something out?
In Charleston, the Coastal Conservation League as well as the Charleston Preservation Society and local neighborhood organizations believe the cruise industry is violating zoning and nuisance laws. But the city of Charleston and the State Ports Authority are crying foul, saying the claims should be thrown out because they stretch and distort current laws.
Back in Mobile, Mayor Sam Jones believes another ship will drop anchor soon. “The first thing we’ll try to do is get them to run a test cruise as we did with Carnival out of Mobile to see what they get and see how this port operates,” said Jones in a localtv15 report.
Opposing forces in Charleston include National Trust for Historic Preservation who warned Charleston that its growing cruise industry is threatening the city’s historic character, placing it on “watch” status.
“We believe that the past preservation work in Charleston has made this community a national treasure and we are willing to dedicate resources to address questions about the impact of cruise tourism” Stephanie Meeks, the president of the trust told the Associated Press .
Also opposing cruise ships is environmental group the Coastal Conservation League, the Preservation Society of Charleston and the Ansonborough and Charlestowne neighborhoods. They have filed a lawsuit against Carnival Corporation, parent to Carnival Cruise Lines who operates the Carnival Fantasy year-round from Charleston.
Related articles
