by Marty Madden for thebaynet.com
The numbers seem daunting—1,000-foot cruise ships, hundreds of new jobs in the private sector and an estimated multi-million dollar impact on the local economy. The idea that is literally being floated could make Solomons—the small town located at the confluence of the Chesapeake Bay and Patuxent River—a destination for passenger ships.
While the idea may seem far-fetched, Solomons resident Charlie Donnelly, who is well-versed in the Calvert town’s colorful history, indicated the arrangement would be nothing new. Donnelly noted the waterways adjacent to Solomons have been traversed by battleships, steamboats, oil tankers and other sizable vessels in the past. The plan to build a cruise ship terminal would return Solomons to its bygone days.
“It’s hard for people to understand how this is going to work,” Donnelly admitted.
The project will need to sail through some red tape before it can become a reality. Donnelly and his group, Global Maritime Solution (GMS), are hoping to lease 50 acres of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station’s Recreation Annex in Solomons for the operations facility. FIND THE FULL ARTICLE HERE