The Durban Cruise Terminal is a new cruise ship terminal constructed in the South African city of
Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
.
Work on the terminal began in November 2019.
The terminal was expected to be completed in 2020, however, due to the COVID-19 restrictions in South Africa, was only completed in 2021. MSC Orchestra was the first cruise ship to sail from the new terminal.
Business structure
After two unsuccessful bids, Kwa Zulu Cruise Terminals (KCT) – a joint venture between
MSC Cruises SA and Africa Armada Consortium – won the bid in May 2017.
The winning bidders have a 25-year concession on the site.
MSC Opera (Lirica Class) will homeport in Cape Town and MSC Musica (Musica Class) in Durban. This will mark the first time that two different classes of MSC Cruises’ ships will be deployed in South Africa simultaneously.
The construction project
The project will cost an estimated R200 million and the building will measure 4,500sqm.
The terminal will include:
* A customs office
*Parking spaces for 200 vehicles including up to 12 buses
*A retail area
*Multipurpose training, conferencing and events facilities
*Separate screening and temporary holding areas
* A Police Station
* Various government offices
During the COVID-19 pandemic
In February 2021, due to lockdown rules imposed during the
Coronavirus pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified ...
, MSC cancelled its South African sailing season. Passengers with tickets booked were offered vouchers for the next sailing season. The ships were scheduled to set sail again in November 2021 at the earliest.
References
Cruise Terminal, Durban
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