On 22 November, President Cyril Ramaphosa officially inaugurated the R 330 million Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal in South Africa’s main port of Durban, ahead of the start of South Africa’s 2023-24 cruise season.
During his speech, President Ramaphosa said, “The global cruise tourism market is worth an estimated $174 billion and alongside the City of Cape Town, Durban is perfectly placed as a destination of choice for cruise ships.
“The latest cruise season injected an estimated R1.2 billion into the economy of the Western Cape alone. We want to see similar numbers being attracted to KwaZulu-Natal. This terminal will play an important part in doing so.”
The building was devised and funded by MSC Cruises and its black economic empowerment partner African Armada Consortium in a public-private partnership with Transnet National Ports Authority, which was first conceived 10 years ago. The venture, called KwaZulu Cruise Terminal Limited, operates the new facility and is the first public-private partnership in the South African cruise industry.
A gateway to the Zulu Kingdom
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises and Chairman of KwaZulu Cruise Terminal, said, “Nelson Mandela was an incredible statesman and leader who continues to inspire progress around the world and we are honoured that the Nelson Mandela Foundation allowed us to use his name for what is the gateway to the Zulu Kingdom.
“MSC Cruises arrived in South Africa in the early 1990s and since then, thousands of cruise guests have discovered the beauty of the KwaZulu-Natal Province and beyond. The new Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal in Durban will give access to passengers from more than 100 nationalities, and they will enjoy the unique experience we offer on board and visits to the beautiful destinations we have developed at Portugeuse Island and Pomene in Mozambique.”
The 6 000 m² energy-efficient cruise terminal has the capacity to handle 4 000 passengers a day.
Ross Volk, MD of MSC Cruises South Africa, said, “We are fully committed to help drive the country’s tourism industry and create employment opportunities along the way which has and will continue to have a positive economic impact on the nation.”
The 6 000 m² energy-efficient cruise terminal has the capacity to handle 4 000 passengers a day, while the project created 10 000 construction jobs.
MSC Cruises’ parent MSC Group set up the Shosholoza Academy in South Africa, in 2019, to educate young people and train them in hospitality skills used on board MSC Cruises’ fleet of 22 ships. The academy will see 5 000 new crew members join MSC Cruises’ vessels in the weeks and months ahead.
Ross added that MSC Splendida, MSC Cruises’ largest and most modern ship to serve the South African market, was arriving soon for the official start of the local cruise season.
