MSC Cruises has agreed a deal with the Port of Barcelona to build and operate a cruise terminal in the Spanish city.
The line will invest more than £28 million into the terminal (pictured) that is expected to open in 2024 and will welcome incoming vessel MSC Europa, which will be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) after it launches in 2022.
Shore power facilities and LNG bunkering operations will both be available at the 11,670 square metre-site, said MSC, which has agreed to operate the terminal for a 31-year period.
LNG is widely seen as the marine industry’s most advanced fuel technology and can be transferred to vessels via another ship in the port.
MSC Cruises’ executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said: “Perhaps most importantly, the new terminal will allow us to operate expanded homeport operations, resulting in added direct and indirect economic benefit for the city and the overall region.
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“This will come from higher spend locally by our international guests either flying into or out of Barcelona airport and likely to spend additional days in the city and its hotels together with their traveling parties.
“Homeport operations will also allow us to dedicate to Barcelona more of our new ships – including the LNG-powered MSC World Europa which is currently under construction.
“The new terminal allows us to further demonstrate our commitment to environmental sustainability as it will feature both shore power facilities as well as LNG bunkering operations.”
To help build the terminal, MSC has partnered with Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill.