On September 25, public officials, the maritime community and the public celebrated the grand opening of the new James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27.
San Francisco’s Mayor Lee said that the new terminal would help in boosting tourism and providing a significant economic impact to the City during his remarks at the ceremony. Photo by Joel Williams
Published: October, 2014
On September 25, public officials, the maritime community and the public celebrated the grand opening of the new James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27. The Grand Princess cruise ship, in port for the festivities, served as the picture-perfect backdrop for welcoming the new facility.
Named in honor of James R. Herman, a former port commissioner and president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, the new facility elevates the passenger experience to a new level. The terminal boasts 91,000 square feet in a two-story building with views to the Bay Bridge and back to the City skyline and Telegraph Hill.
Sized for 2,600 passengers and able to handle ships with up to 4,000, the terminal is built for the evolving trends in the passenger cruise industry. It includes the latest passenger and perimeter security features while also easily transitioning to an event center for the City on non-cruise days. The new terminal features computerized access control and security monitoring systems, vessel data connectivity to terminal network systems, and hardwired and wireless operating networks.
“The new James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27 is a legacy project that will welcome more passengers, visitors and residents to our world-class waterfront for generations to come,” said Mayor Lee. “This major port infrastructure project that is being delivered on time and on budget is the centerpiece of the Bay Area’s cruise industry, providing jobs, boosting tourism and providing a significant economic impact.”
Circulation for passenger drop-off, taxis, buses and provisioning all occur off the Embarcadero roadway within the interior of the 13-acre pier. Ship boarding will be via a new glass-enclosed, automated mobile gangway able to meet the varied door heights of new cruise ships. When in berth, ships will plug into the port’s 12-megawatt shore power system to receive clean power.
On non-cruise days, the terminal quickly converts to the City’s newest and most spectacular event center. Interior spaces can support a variety of events with flexibly designed spaces and dividers, stackable furnishings, mobile check-in booths and security screening equipment, shared audio/visual resource hubs and multiple entrance lobbies for simultaneous event use.
The new terminal was constructed using sustainable design practices in accord with Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) standards. For more info on the new terminal’s environmental design features, see our Green Pages feature on pages 18-19.
Outside the Embarcadero front of the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal is the expansive lawn of the new 2½-acre Cruise Terminal Plaza. Visitors to the port can marvel at the size of cruise ships as they are berthed adjacent to the plaza. Over 50 benches provide seating options, while the lawn offers opportunity for informal play or relaxation.
“The new cruise terminal represents so much more than just a gateway to welcome passengers to our great city. It represents a commitment to cruising for at least another century. And it showcases maritime operations side-by-side with recreation, public access and environmental stewardship,” said Port of San Francisco Executive Director Monique Moyer.
Circus-style performers with a nautical theme provided a festive atmosphere during the Grand Opening of the new James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27. Photo by Joel Williams
The Grand Princess cruise ship was in port for the Grand Opening festivities. Photo by Joel Williams
