Fourth Cruise Pier in Cozumel

Wow! It’s been a while. But I’m back!

The post you’re going to start is a very interesting and worrying post. Please let me know your thoughts at the end…

Fourth Cozumel Pier

I don’t know if you already know, that the Mexican President and SEMARNAT (Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources) just announced and approved a fourth pier for Cozumel. If this is new for you let me tell you how it started.

They’ve been trying to make this fourth pier for a long time now. This project is estimated to cost nearly $25 million in investment. The new pier will be located on the island’s northwest coast along Rafael E. Melgar Avenue. It’ll be an L-shaped pier and be capable of receiving ships up to 362 meters in length. A curious fact is that: This is the exact length of the largest cruise ship in the world, Wonder of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International. Wondering why…

Ashore there will be a two-level cruise terminal with a total land area of 1.1 hectares (118,400 square feet). Which will be used for boarding and disembarking of passengers. It’ll also have bathrooms, parking, offices, and luggage storage to offer.

Economy

I’m aware that a part of the island economy is because of the cruises. But I don’t think that a fourth pier will help in anything. It’ll just affect the reefs bringing more trash and also destroying them. Because of the construction, contamination, traffic, and people on the island.

The newspaper “The Economist” quotes this interesting analysis:

“More cruise ships means less drinking water. (Because of the number of tourists that’ll arrive if they build the pier. Will generate sewage water that is impossible to be treated by the Cozumel Treatment Plant.) Also, It’ll bring more solid waste. This pier will also alter the coasts and degrade the marine flora and fauna of Cozumel.”

“A fourth pier will further reduce the coastal spaces for public use in Cozumel. It’ll mean the dispossession of our marine areas where we carry out tourist and recreational activities.” So it’ll also impact the boat activities. Wich generates even more work than the cruises passengers.

In addition to that, they assure that the economic reactivation will be achieved when the cruise ships return, NOT when more docks are built.

Sadly, I don’t know where does the private or relaxing part will stay if we already receive approximately 9 cruises per day.

Environmental Impact

Regarding the impact on the environment. They highlight that protected species will be destroyed. Causing serious problems for navigation and emerging aquatic activities such as snorkeling, sailing and, diving. A lot of environmental groups and residents are not happy with this.

Some of the environmental associations that oppose the project are Citymar, Mayab Ecologist Group, Coral Reef Restauration. As well as private companies.

The environmentalist and inhabitants of the island including me started to sign that we are against this unnecessary pier. Fortunately, the noise that the people made was so big that a federal judge ordered the provisional suspension of the project. I hope that the government disapproves and cancels this. As you can read it is really harmful to our beautiful island.

Deluxe & Cruise ships

Even if we thought before the pandemic that our main clients were cruise passengers, we really notice that without them we still have a lot of customers, that’s why in my opinion we are good with the cruises we have, for now, we do not need another pier. I really hope they disapprove the project. Also, a lot of cruise companies have a new policy that says that nobody can make any excursion if they don’t buy it from them. So if you want to take a private, relaxing, and amazing experience with food and beverages included and great service, feel free to contact Deluxe Private Yachts.