Samaná to bring an additional 300,000 cruise passengers into the Dominican Republic
2024, March 8: Work is now in full swing as the Dominican Republic moves to create the newest cruise destination port in the Caribbean.
Shovel-in-ground work to convert Puerto Duarte de Arroyo Barril into a modern cruise terminal began on Monday (2024, March 4), with a symbolic ground breaking ceremony involving representatives of public and private sectors.
Also known as Samaná, this bay on the northeast of the Dominican Republic is expected to receive an additional 300,000 cruise passengers, with an annual growth rate of 25% predicted. All being well, Samana will be receiving cruise ships by the end of 2025.
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
The development is the product of a public-private partnership (P-PP) involving the Dominican Port Authority and PDAB Port Investments Sociedad Gestora S.A., which will deliver the job. This is the first such P-PI in the DomRep and it starts with an investment of US$68 million. The work will involve rehabilitation and new construction to facilitate arrival and husbanding of Oasis-class cruiseships, with terminal capacity to receive and manage four ships at a time.
Samaná port has been receiving loose general cargo, oversized cargo, cement and various tourist vessels since 1977. []
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