Portland's new pier for cruise ships opens

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The new pier for large cruise ships at the Portland Ocean Gateway is open.

The Celebrity Summit will use Pier II, formerly known as the "mega berth," when it pays a visit on Wednesday. The first ship to use it was the Enchantment of the Seas over the weekend.

The nearly 1,200-foot-long Ocean Gateway Pier II doubles the city's berthing capacity for cruise ships and other large commercial vessels. It was built at a cost of $6 million.

The project is funded by a transportation bond and can accommodate the world's largest cruise ships. A grand opening reception is scheduled for later this month.