The cruise division of MSC Group has broken ground on its new $350 million terminal in Miami. When it opens in late 2023 it will be the largest in North America and is expected to attract more international travelers for holidays at sea in the Caribbean.. The four-storey building with four embarkation decks will be able to accommodate up to 36,000 passenger movements a day. It will also feature enough berthing space to serve three latest generation ships simultaneously.
MSC Group and Italian ship builder Fincantieri announced a partnership in 2021 whereby Fincantieri Infrastructure would construct the state-of-the-art facility, design by architecture firm Arquitectonica.
Rubén Rodriguez, President, MSC Cruises USA, said, “Our new terminal at PortMiami represents MSC Cruises’ commitment to growing in North America and will help drive our expansion in South Florida by offering our guests an unbeatable experience that starts before they ever step on board. It’s also part of our larger sustainability goals, which include deploying our most modern and environmentally advanced ships to North America, the continued development of our one-of-a-kind Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, and our pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. We’re proud of our partnership with Fincantieri, PortMiami and Miami-Dade County, and it’s a privilege to be able to contribute to the region’s continued growth and vitality.”
Aside from the terminal building itself, the new complex – which is currently projected to be completed by the end of 2023 – will include a multi-level parking garage for 2,400 vehicles, new road construction to ensure traffic flows smoothly, and a total of three berths capable of accommodating the largest of cruise ships. The company will build two of those new docks; Miami-Dade County will construct the third. The project also involves the construction of related shore infrastructure, including water supply stations and four passenger embarkation decks.
