Agence Nationale des Ports (ANP) the National Ports Agency of Morocco has launched plans for the Port of Casablanca cruise terminal, which is located on the Atlantic coast of Chaouia plain in the central-western part of the north African country, near Hassan II Mosque.
The facility shall accommodate and process ferries, and consequently resolve the problem of the non-existence of specialized terminals that can offer this type of service to the port of Casablanca, which nevertheless receives a significant flow of cruise passengers on its facilities.
Implementation of the project for the construction of a new cruise terminal at the port of Casablanca
The construction works of the new Port of Casablanca cruise terminal will be carried out in three lots. The first lot concerns the construction works of a 665 m box-type quay, dredging and general backfill work, and the demolition of the old oil station, the construction of a median between the new quay and the existing dyke, with a concrete guard wall.
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The timeframe for the execution of the works in the first lot according to the regulatory agency of the Moroccan port sector is 24 months at an estimated cost of US$ 50.2M.
The second lot on the other hand includes the construction works of a road network, the construction of a sewage and rainwater treatment network, and other ancillary works. Reportedly, this will require an investment of 73.7 million dirhams and it is expected to be delivered in a span of 12 months.
The last lot and expectations for the future cruise terminal
The last batch, expected to be completed in 12 months’ time at a cost of 147 million dirhams, mainly involves the construction of a ferry terminal.
Once completed, the new cruise terminal at the port of Casablanca will have a capacity of 450,000 cruise passengers per year. It will facilitate and streamline border controls for tourists and other travelers as well as baggage handling.