Senator Opposes Cozumel’s 4th Cruise Dock Over Risks

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Senator Eugenio Segura (Morena), chairman of the Senate Tourism Commission, has stated that he will oppose the construction of a fourth cruise ship dock in Cozumel if the project poses environmental or social risks to the island.

Environmental and Social Concerns

“If the fourth dock will have a negative environmental impact and also a negative social impact, my position would be against it,” Segura said. He emphasized the need to carefully review the proposed location, citing potential harm to the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest coral reef system in the world, as well as the displacement of local residents from a key snorkeling area.

“The only place on the island where locals, the people of Cozumel, can snorkel without a permit from the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) could be affected,” he explained.

Segura has met with local residents to assess public sentiment and is awaiting further analysis from municipal and federal authorities before finalizing his stance.

Project Details

The fourth cruise dock is one of 39 projects included in the Economic Reactivation Agreement announced during the administration of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO). The Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) has already granted a 20-year concession, renewable for an additional 20 years, to Muelles del Caribe, a company owned by Yucatán-based businessman José Enrique Molina Cáceres. The estimated investment exceeds 500 million pesos ($25 million USD).

The project received environmental impact approval in 2023 and includes:

• A 2,354-hectare terminal with an L-shaped dock spanning 1.16 hectares, supported by 774 steel pilings.
• Capacity to accommodate vessels up to 362 meters in length, 66 meters in width, and with a draft of 9.32 meters.
• A two-level building on land covering 1.1 hectares for passenger boarding and disembarking.
• A commercial plaza with retail spaces, waiting areas for tours, and a pedestrian bridge with elevators and escalators.

Economic Context

Cozumel set a record in 2024 with 4.6 million cruise passengers, reinforcing its status as a key tourism destination. However, the proposed dock has sparked debate over balancing economic growth with environmental preservation and community access.

The project’s fate now hinges on further evaluations by authorities and ongoing discussions with local stakeholders.