Mount Pleasant leaders to present a resolution that would discourage a cruise ship terminal

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD)- The conversation around whether a cruise ship terminal should be allowed in Mount Pleasant is heating up.

The Town of Mount Pleasant is planning to pass a resolution on Tuesday that would attempt to put a stop to it, but some council members aren’t on board.

The contract between Carnival Sunshine and the Ports Authority is set to expire at the end of the year, meaning the cruise line will no longer dock in Charleston, unless they find a new home.

Councilmember Gary Santos thinks it’s a no-brainer to bring the terminal to Patriot’s Point, “It’s just good for the businesses here in Mount Pleasant, whether it’s the restaurants or the stores.”

Santos says the revenue Mount Pleasant could make from it would be exponential.

“It could have a big benefit for the town,” Santos said.

Other town leaders are against it, saying there’s no land left at Patriot’s Point to create a cruise terminal.

There’s also a state law dating back to the 1970s that excludes the property on Patriot’s Point from being used for ocean cargo or passenger vessels.

“The resolution tomorrow is basically just for council to support and reinforce the fact that there is a state law that prevents any cruise ship activity on any of the Patriots Point development land which is all of patriots point,” councilmember Jake Rambo said.

Rambo says he plans to vote in favor of the resolution, and against cruise ships coming to Patriot’s Point. “I am unequivocally against cruise ships in Mount Pleasant. I don’t think it’s right for Mount Pleasant for a number of reasons. Traffic, congestion, ecologically. It would take massive dredging where you could even have a place where you could do that.”

Santos says he hopes his fellow council members will reconsider.

“I don’t know why everyone is so much against it, this is revenue,” Santos said.

Town council will vote on the resolution Tuesday night at their town council meeting.

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