CCL-Carnival Cruise Line has agreed on a deal to build a US$100 million cruise ship port in Grand Bahama (Freeport), according to the Prime Minister of Bahamas, Hubert Minnis. He made the announcement at a youth convention on Friday, August 16. He said that the government would provide more details in the upcoming days. A spokesman for the cruise company confirmed that an agreement had been reached.
Earlier news reports indicated that the project was expected to cost about US$100 million. The government had announced in February it was in negotiations with CCL over the project, that it claims will create nearly 1,000 jobs.
CCL is one of the key partners in Verdant Isle Port Partners consortium that was announced as the ‘preferred bidder’ for the expanded cargo and cruise port project in Grand Cayman.
CCL has its critics in the Bahamas, particularly since the line was fined US$20 million by a US court after admitting environmental violations, such as dumping plastic waste in Bahamian waters.