DURBAN’S status as a leading cruise destination was cemented on Saturday, 16 November with the arrival of the MSC Orchestra cruise liner on her maiden voyage to South African shores which also included a sod turning ceremony to mark the start of construction of the new Durban passenger terminal.
General manager of the Port of Durban, Moshe Motlohi, said the port’s cruise sector developments reflected growing confidence in Durban as a cruise prospect.
“We thank MSC Cruises for continuously deploying their cruise vessels to the South African market, which has increased our country’s cruise competitiveness. MSC Orchestra’s use of the Port of Durban as her homeport will see even more domestic and international tourists enjoying itineraries that take in our South African hub cruise ports of Durban and Cape Town, as well as ports in neighbouring countries such as Mozambique and Mauritius.”
MSC Orchestra was ushered onto the quayside at the port’s M berth as traditional dancers and a marimba band entertained over 3 000 disembarking European and South African passengers. Her Durban call ended a 29-night itinerary from Genoa in Italy and prior to Durban she had called in at Reunion.
On Saturday afternoon TNPA and the KwaZulu Cruise Terminal (KCT) consortium – in which MSC Cruises is a partner alongside empowered investment entity Africa Armada Consortium – broke ground on the construction of the Port of Durban’s new world-class cruise terminal.
ALSO READ: Agreement paves way for new Durban Cruise Terminal
KCT holds a 25-year port concession from TNPA to finance, construct, operate, maintain and transfer the new Cruise Terminal Facility in the Port of Durban at an estimated value of more than R200 million. The anticipated commissioning of the project is 2020/21.
Motlohi said the new terminal development dovetails with the City’s new beachfront promenade extension from uShaka beach southwards to the harbour entrance, as well as the future development of Durban Point Waterfront.
Transnet plans to commence construction on its own section of the promenade in 2020 which will connect to the new Cruise Terminal, allowing cruise passengers direct access and connections to the central beachfront with relative ease and safety.
“This is going to change the face of Durban. The cruise industry is the fastest growing category in the leisure travel market, and TNPA’s decision to build a dedicated cruise terminal in the port is well supported,” said Motlohi.
The new green and energy efficient terminal will boast a host of new features and facilities, with a retail component, as well as multi-purpose training, conferencing and events facilities.
To ensure Durban’s readiness for the bumper festive season, TNPA has had its dredging vessel hard at work pumping sand along the new portion of the city’s Golden Mile which is expected to attract tourists in their thousands. Sand collected by the dredger during TNPA’s usual harbour dredging operations is being discharged onto the new beach area from uShaka beach southwards towards the harbour entrance.
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