Durban's Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal has been officially opened by President Cyril Ramaphosa ahead of South Africa's 2023-24 cruise season.
The building was created and financed by MSC Cruises in collaboration with the African Armada Consortium and the National Port Authority Transnet.
The cruise terminal, which covers 6,000 square meters and has a capacity for 4,000 passengers per day, will be operated by KwaZulu Cruise Terminal Limited.
Among those in attendance were Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises and Chairman of KwaZulu Cruise Terminal, President Cyril Ramaphosa, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, government ministers, port officials and leaders of South Africa's leading travel agencies.
“Nelson Mandela was an incredible statesman and leader who continues to inspire progress around the world, and we are honored that the Nelson Mandela Foundation has allowed us to use his name for what is the gateway to the Zulu Kingdom,” said Pierfrancesco Vago.
“MSC Cruises arrived in South Africa in the early 1990s, and since then, thousands of cruise guests have discovered the beauty of KwaZulu-Natal province and beyond. The new Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal in Durban will welcome passengers from over 100 nationalities, who will enjoy the unique onboard experience and visits to the beautiful destinations we have developed in Portuguesa Island and Pomene, Mozambique“.
Duban Terminal
“Ten years have passed since the initial conception of this public-private partnership, the first of its kind for South Africa's east coast. Together with our Black partner, we had the privilege of creating new infrastructure to support the expansion of South African cruise tourism, and the new terminal will be welcomed by cruise lines worldwide.”
Ross Volk, Managing Director of MSC Cruises South Africa, added: “We are fully committed to helping boost the country’s tourism industry and creating employment opportunities along the way, which has had and will continue to have a positive economic impact on the nation. This will be exemplified later this week with the start of the local cruise season and the arrival of MSC Splendida, MSC Cruises’ largest and most modern ship to serve the South African market.”
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