The board authorized Union Concrete and Construction Corp. to perform the initial construction work at the Slip 2 site on Fuhrmann Boulevard, the former location of the Pier Restaurant. The project is scheduled to open for the 2028 cruise season.

The approval follows New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recent release of renderings for the Buffalo Cruise Terminal, which is intended to serve domestic and international Great Lakes cruise vessels. 

Phase 1 construction will focus on marine infrastructure, including seawall repairs, installation of guardrails and heavy-duty mooring bollards. According to ECHDC, the seawall improvements will allow cruise ships to begin using the site for scheduled dockings while additional development continues. 

A second phase, which will be bid separately, will include construction of a terminal building with public restrooms and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility. 

Plans for the site also include seawall stabilization, environmental remediation, a multi-use path, a pedestrian promenade, a sunset viewing area with seating and a small parking lot. ECHDC said the terminal’s design will complement nearby Outer Harbor destinations, including Bell Slip and Wilkeson Pointe. 

The board also approved a 20-year revocable, nonexclusive license agreement with American Cruise Lines Inc. Under the agreement, the cruise operator will have the right to dock passenger vessels at the terminal, oversee passenger embarkation and disembarkation and conduct vessel resupply operations. 

American Cruise Lines will pay a one-time upfront fee of $25,000, followed by monthly fees based on passenger volume and vessel dock time. Because the agreement is nonexclusive, ECHDC may enter into docking agreements with additional cruise operators in the future.

New York state announced plans in 2022 to establish a Great Lakes cruise terminal in Buffalo. In 2024, ECHDC completed a market demand study evaluating six potential waterfront locations capable of supporting domestic and international cruise operations. The study recommended the south berth at Slip 2 as the preferred site. 

According to ECHDC, the corporation has received commitment letters from two Great Lakes cruise lines indicating they intend to add Buffalo to future itineraries. 

The Great Lakes cruise market grew from approximately 9,000 passengers in 2010 to more than 25,000 in 2023, according to ECHDC. The corporation said Buffalo’s location at the southern end of the Welland Canal, along with its transportation network, lodging capacity and tourism attractions, positions the city to serve as both a port of call and a potential homeport for Great Lakes cruises. 

In May, the American Patriot, operated by American Cruise Lines, became the first cruise ship to dock in Buffalo in 59 years. The 130-passenger vessel arrived at the Erie Street Dock near Erie Basin Marina, which serves as a temporary docking location while work on the permanent terminal moves forward.