Where San Diego Greets the World
The Port of San Diego is an innovative champion for the 34 miles of San Diego Bay waterfront along Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego.
It is a ‘Mini-City’ governed by group of 7 Port Commissioners. One commissioner each is appointed by the city councils of Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach and National City, and three commissioners are appointed by the San Diego City Council.
This small but mighty organization receives no tax dollars (sales, property), just a percentage of revenue from organizations operating on port property. It manages real estate, maritime, Harbor Police, and tourism venues and its operating model is based on revenues from tenants. Like many, its $155M+ operating budget was significantly lowered due to the Pandemic, which impacted key revenue sources like sales from businesses located in its jurisdiction. As of yet, the Port as not received state / fed stimulus funds.
The Port’s cargo terminals are one of the only 17 commercial “strategic ports,” designated to support cargo and vessel operations for U.S. military Transportation Command and Military Sealift Command.
Economic Engine
Since established in 1963 the Port Commission has invested $1.87B. contributing an economic benefit of $9B and many high-paying jobs to our community. Projects include:
Maritime cargo terminals
B Street Cruise Ship Terminal
Port Pavillion on Broadway Pier
Tenthn Avenue Marine Terminal Modernization
SD Convention Center & Expansion
Airport Terminals & Expansion
Shelter & Harbor Islands
South Bay Wildlife Refuge
22 Dedicates Public Parks
National City Marina Basin
North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Phase 1
Cruise Fun Facts
Each ship that stops in SD generates $1M for the city
Each ship that starts in SD generates $2M for the city
27 Cruises were cancelled for the 2019-20 season
137 Cruises have been cancelled for the 2019-20 season
$4.4M cruise-related revenue has been lost since the Pandemic start
Working Waterfront
Unlike Long Beach or LA that are mega-cargo ports, SD handles Roll-on / Roll-off Cargo, handling items that are odd-sized and/or difficult to manage, such as breakable items, jet enjoiners, lumber, refrigerated containers, steel, sand, bauxite, windmill blades, tractor-trailer trucks. SD handles 500K auto imports / year, which is one in every 10 cars in the country.
A new Transit Shed was developed to better enable the Port to handle these types of cargo. Both the National City Marine Terminal and the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal had banners years during Covid as they were able to pick up new business from carriers who were unable to off-load in Long Beach or LA.
At the same time, the Port is investing in new initiatives. While traditional trades like ship building, cruise ships and fishing power the region, the Blue Economy – new aquatic technologies – will take SD beyond our traditional military and tourism industries and drive growth. The Port is investing and supporting new initiatives such as underwater robotics, culinary seaweed, growing shellfish, environmental remediation and bio-enhancing concrete.
Seaport Stewardship
The Port Commission champions the safekeeping and environmental care of our community’s diverse ecosystems. Each year environmental goals are set and measured, and all projects are designed to protect our land, air and water by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, creating climate action plans, saved water, installing solar arrays, and championing a micro-grid to generate power.
SD is a member of Green Marine, North America’s largest voluntary environmental certification program for the maritime industry.
Public Safety
Harbor Police ensure public safety on Port property. This 170 individual team of officers, dive teams and K-9 units, works with other law enforcement organizations including the SDPD and Border Patrol. Members are cross-trained for vessel fire-fighting and other specialties, given our seaport can be a target, due to our area’s population, cargo capabilities, tourism, and military presence.
Chula Vista Bayfront
This $1.1B project will reimage the south bay and is designed to create 10K construction jobs and 5K permanent jobs. A Master Plan is being executed and the largest impact will be on the west coast. It will be anchored by a 1600 room hotel and 275K net usable square feet convention center operated by Gaylord. Gaylord operates other centers around the US, including ones in Nashville and Dallas-Ft Worth, and is expected to have 5000 room-nights booked before the venue opens. The development also includes retail, restaurant and resort amenities as well as a RV park and vacation rentals for those without vehicles. A three-quarter mile bike path and promenade will connect these two areas.
In addition, a public beach and harbor park with beach will be developed and ferry service to downtown and Coronado are planned.
World Class Waterfront
There is a 30-year Master plan for an ‘Emerald Necklace’ and development projects to connect all of the Port’s 22 separate parks. An environmental review of the plan is underway. Stay tuned for more new projects underway to grow revenue and opportunity for the community:
Portside Pier
iconic $20M project is expected to deliver $24M revenue annually after 3 years of operation
Seaport Village Revitalization
Pending the permanent redevelopment of Seaport Village, the Port invested in redevelopment, new chairs, mini-beach, painting, signage, new leases to drive traffic and revenue. Hip, local new tenants have been secured, including: Mr Moto Pizza, Mike Hess Brewing, Spill the Beans Coffee, Louisiana Charlies, Malibu Farm, Crack Taco Shop.
The Rady Shell @ Jacobs Park
Developed with all private funds and supported by thePort Commission, this world-class venue has opened to rave reviews and was recently featured in Apple’s video launching the iPhone 13. More about The Shell.
Sunroad - Harbor island
The Commission recently approved a Sunroad proposal to develop a 450-room hotel with two yet-to-be-determined brands on East Harbor Island with amenities open to the public, including: retail shops, parking, and temporary and permanent mini destinations to draw people to and through the hotel and amenities, mobile carts for retail/specialty items and/or food, and game/exercise spots.
Convention Center Expansion
The Commission has not approved any plans for the 5th Ave Landing / site for contiguous Convention Center. The current developer has ~6 years left on lease and continues pay site taxes to the Port.
IQHQ’s Research and Development District (RaDD)
Currently under development in downtown San Diego’s waterfront, this 8-acre (5 city blocks) waterfront site will host 5 buildings (labs, office, retail) for a total of 1,700,000 sq ft. IQHQ is not on SD Port property.
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