MSC Cruises has broken ground on a $350 million terminal in PortMiami to make it a space where its most environmentally friendly ships will eventually be able to refuel and charge up.
The terminal will be equipped to handle three ships at once and accommodate up to 36,000 people per day. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
MSC says the terminal will accommodate its largest and most environmentally advanced cruise ships, including the newest flagship vessel, MSC Seashore. Ships will be able to plug into the local power grid at berth at the terminal as PortMiami plans to enable connectivity from shore.
Ruben Rodriguez, president of MSC Cruises USA, said the new port shows MSC Cruises' commitment to growth in North America and South Florida, but also its work toward environmental sustainability and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
MSC has tapped Fincantieri Infrastructure to build the facility, which is being designed by global architecture firm Arquitectonica.
The complex will include a multi-level, 2,400-vehicle parking garage. MSC will build two of the docks and Miami-Dade County will construct the third.