Port of Houston Authority officials said last week construction of a cruise ship terminal in Pasadena cost $108.4 million rather than the previously announced $71 million.
Financing of the Bayport Cruise Terminal on the Houston Ship Channel included $36.3 million of bond proceeds and $72.1 million from the port’s revenue.
The bonds used to build the facility came from a $387 million authorization approved by voters in 1997.
Officials said the earlier, inaccurate construction report failed to include the debt portion of the financing, utility relocations, and dredging required for the terminal.
The original cost estimate for the facility was $81 million.
No cruise ships regularly call at the terminal, which was completed in 2009. Several cruise lines operate out of the nearby Port of Galveston.
The Harris County attorney’s office is investigating the Port Authority’s compliance with state laws on conflict of interest, financial reporting, and open records at the request of Harris County Commissioner Jack Morman.
