MSC Considers Investment in Santos

MSC Cruises has presented a proposal to build a cruise terminal in Santos, according to local sources.

The project, developed by Brazilian architects and Florida-based Bermello Ajamil & Partners, is said to include a pier and a terminal building for handling passengers.

Roberto Fusaro, CEO of MSC South America, was quoted in Brazilian media to say that the project demonstrates MSC’s interest in Brazil and its willingness to invest and work with local authorities to help generate jobs and revenue while also strengthen the port infrastructure.

Santos is a municipality in the São Paulo state of Brazil, founded in 1546 by the Portuguese nobleman Brás Cubas. It is partially located on the island of São Vicente, which harbours both the city of Santos and the city of São Vicente, and partially on the mainland. It is the main city in the metropolitan region of Baixada Santista. Santos has the biggest seaport in Latin America, which handled over 72 million tons in 2006. It has large industrial complexes and shipping centres, which handle a large portion of the world's coffee exports, as well as a number of other Brazilian exports including steel, oil, cars, oranges, bananas and cotton.

If the project is able to move forward, completion is expected for the 2013/2014 season.