By
Rebecca Gibson |
Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal (MPCT) is to construct a 16,000 sqm terminal, increasing its capacity to handle turnaround calls.
The terminal, which will be able to accommodate two large cruise ships, will be built this year and feature a 450-space parking lot, a 3,000 sqm baggage area and 3,000 sqm check-in area.
MPCT is set to receive more than a million cruise passengers by the end of 2013, due to a 35 per cent increase in the number of transit calls. The French port also expects to reach 1.6 million passengers by the 2015-2016, due to an increase in turnaround calls from MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises, which jointly manage the terminal. In total, 17 of the lines’ vessels will visit the port including MSC Fantasia, Sinfonia and Splendida, as well as Costa Atlantica, Luminosa, Serena and Voyager. Croisières de France’s Horizon will also use Marseille as a turnaround port.
Construction work on a US$35 million project to widen the port’s northern entrance and accommodate cruise vessels of more than 300 m in length – which accounts for 70 per cent of the port’s traffic – has already begun and is scheduled for completion in 2016.