Authorities: No Device or Explosive Material Found Near Cruise Ship Dock

An investigation into a suspicious package found near the dock of the Royal Caribbean cruise ship turned out to be a liquor delivery made by a semi-truck transferring items for the cruise line, authorities said.

"There was no device found, or explosive material found," said Col. Jim Previtera of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, during a press conference Thursday regarding the incident. "We did impound a couple items we removed, and our technicians will look at them."

T. A second K-9 confirmed the first one's suspicions.

As a precaution, workers on the terminal, shore staff and contract security employees were evacuated, authorities said. No passengers were on the ship at the time the item was found, authorities said, and the investigation wrapped up early afternoon on Thursday.

"After the RNC (Republican National Convention), our guys have been through this drill several times," Previtera said.

While the Boston Marathon tragedy that killed three and wounded scores of people was fresh on the minds of Tampa Bay residents this week, Previtera said his agency's response to the package was no different than it would have been weeks before the blasts occurred there.

"Boston's on the forefront of everyone's minds, but our response would have been the same as it was last month," Previtera said.

While authorities diverted traffic near a roundabout across from the Tampa Port Authority on Thursday to investigate, traffic flowed smoothly around lunchtime in the Channelside area.

Nearby at Bamboozle Cafe, 109 N. 12th Street, patrons said they thought response to incidents like the one near the cruise ship were intensified in light of both the Boston Marathon tragedy and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"There is a heightened sensitivity to anything that doesn't look "normal," said Ed Busansky, who lives in Channelside and dined at Bamboozle on Thursday. "If you see something suspicious, you report it. People are concerned more."

Kristi Bartle, also a Channelside resident, agreed.

"I think people are more willing to report suspicious items," she said. "Since Boston, it's in the front of their minds."