‘We’re a shovel-ready project,’ port director Anthony Caputo told visitors at the event. Permits are in place and if funding comes through, construction could begin as early as the autumn, Caputo estimates.

A second berth would be ‘significant,’ he said, noting that in just five years, Cape Liberty has handled more than 1.5m passengers on more than 300 homeport calls. The facility marked its fifth anniversary this month.

With Celebrity Cruises resuming Bermuda sailings next year and Royal Caribbean International’s Explorer of the Seas continuing year-round operations, Bayonne could chalk up 350,000 to 375,000 passengers, making it one of the busiest US East Coast ports.

The permanent berth is Bayonne’s easternmost, putting it closest to the open sea. It stretches 1,400ft following the addition of a 300ft extension and has been dredged to a depth of 50ft. The berth became operational late last year. Upland improvements were recently completed.

On hand for yesterday’s ceremony were Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith and US Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, along with Caputo and Explorer of the Seas Capt. Olav Nyseter.

Menendez is shepherding the funding request through Congress on behalf of the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority. While serving in the House of Representatives, he was on hand for Cape Liberty’s grand opening on May 14, 2004.