US cruise giant Carnival Corporation has received approval to build and operate a second terminal at the Port of Barcelona.

At 11,500 m², the new Terminal E on the port’s Adossat Wharf will be one of the largest in Europe. Carnival plans to begin the final design process and start construction in 2016, with the opening scheduled for 2018.

As well, Carnival will collaborate with the port authority to build and open the first public parking facility located on the wharf, providing cruise passengers with access to over 300 parking spaces.

Carnival already operates a private cruise terminal at the port, Terminal D, named Palacruceros, adjacent to the new facility.

The company has 10 cruise line brands – including Aida, Costa, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn, as well as Carnival Cruise Line – and Barcelona is used by seven of them as both a destination and home port.

In total, Carnival cruise ships visit over 725 ports of call.

Speaking to IHS Maritime, a Barcelona Port Authority (BPA) spokeswoman said, “Adossat Wharf, where the terminal will be located, doesn’t need additional dredging and we don’t have to build new infrastructure. However, there is currently a multipurpose terminal – Port Nou – where the new Terminal E will be built and that means that in the following weeks Port Nou will move to a new location, a bit further south along Adossat Wharf, so that works for Terminal E can get started.

Source: www.ihsmaritime360.com
Photo: Expansion