Muelles del Caribe announced on Tuesday that it has temporarily suspended construction of a cruise ship pier in Cozumel, Mexico.

In early January 2022, the federal government granted the concession title to Muelles del Caribe to build, operate, exploit and exploit a maritime-port terminal for cruise ships, for private use, in the municipality of Isla de Cozumel, outside the limits of the Port Precinct, in Quintana Roo.

Muelles del Caribe

The company communicated that it made the decision to establish a technical pause in the construction works of the fourth cruise pier in Cozumel. 

“This determination reflects our firm commitment to social, environmental and corporate responsibility, and reaffirms our dedication to the sustainable economic development of the island of Cozumel and the state of Quintana Roo,” the company said in a press release.

The project has faced citizen protests for allegedly affecting coral reefs and for allegedly disproportionately increasing public services on the island.

“We recognize the strategic relevance of this project as an essential driver of economic investment, and its potential in generating new opportunities for the region, attracting capital, strengthening tourism infrastructure and consolidating Cozumel as a top destination in the international cruise industry,” added Muelles del Caribe. 

The company argued that this pause represents an opportunity to reinforce environmental measures and address the concerns of some sectors of the Cozumel community, so that this project fully meets its objective of generating sustainable and long-term benefits for regional growth. 

Construction of the project

The work is focused to the attention and supply of berthing bands and port services for tourist boats type cruises, with capacity of attention for boats of great size but also counting on the versatility to receive smaller boats.

The terminal is integrated by port infrastructure, consisting of:

• A specialized dock for cruise ships, consisting of a dock access platform and an area for embarking and disembarking cruise ships and its corresponding operations area.
• A terminal building for passenger boarding and disembarking.
• Road connection with the urban area of Cozumel.