Demolition work has begun at Port Canaveral in Florida to make way for a new US$150 million passenger terminal, upgraded berth and a new car park.
The demolition of Cruise Terminal 3, which was used for single-day cruise calls, is expected to be completed in July at a cost of US$210,000.
It is the start of a multi-phase, 20-month construction project that will be the largest in the port's history.
Scheduled for completion by early 2020, the two-storey, 17,465-square-metre terminal will accommodate up to 6,500 cruise guests.
It will feature screening systems in line with US Customs and Border Protection regulations and mobile passenger check-in to expedite boarding processes.
The elevated parking structure will have capacity for around 1,800 vehicles.
Other works include the port's channel widening and deepening, repairs and improvements to cargo piers including passenger boarding bridges.