MSC breaks ground in Miami for N. America's largest cruise terminal

The four-story building with four embarkation decks will be able to accommodate up to 36,000 passenger movements a day. There will be enough berthing space to serve three latest generation ships simultaneously.

The terminal will be able to handle MSC's current flagship, MSC Seashore, and the line’s future LNG-powered World Class ships. Most ships using the new Miami terminal will be able to plug in to the local power grid, in line with PortMiami’s plans to enable shore power.

Arquitectonica is designing the terminal

The facility will allow MSC Cruises to expand its North American presence and attract more international travelers to Caribbean cruising. It's also part of MSC's larger sustainability goals, which include deploying its most modern and environmentally advanced ships in North America, the continued development of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and a pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, MSC Cruises USA President Rubén Rodriguez said.

Expected to be completed by the end of 2023, the terminal project includes a multi-level parking garage for 2,400 vehicles, new road construction to ensure smooth traffic flows and three berths. MSC will build two of those berths totaling 750 meters/2,461 feet and Miami-Dade County the third, which is expected to be used by another cruise line. The project also involves the construction of related shore infrastructure, including water supply stations and four passenger embarkation decks.

Fincantieri construction

The project is in partnership with Fincantieri Infrastructure, which will lead construction of the  terminal, designed by Arquitectonica, which also developed Virgin Voyages' new Terminal V. 

According to Fincantieri, this represents one of the largest investments recently made in the US by an Italian-led multinational corporation.

Italian export credit financing

In light of the project’s strategic relevance for Italy’s economy and its support for exports, MSC received financing from Intesa Sanpaolo and CDP. The loan is guaranteed by SACE with the contribution of SIMEST to provide rate stability and interest subsidies.

'We are very pleased to be able to work with MSC, Miami-Dade County and PortMiami on such an ambitious project as the new terminal,' said Claudio Gemme, CEO of Fincantieri Infrastructure. He added: 'When the works are completed, here in the world cruise capital, passengers from all over the globe will be able to admire the superior quality of our work even before boarding the ship.'

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the terminal will 'significantly impact the entire region' with opportunities for jobs, contracts and services.