Official’s Cozumel Visit Revives Controversial Cruise Pier Project

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — A Mexican official’s weekend visit to this island resort, facilitated by a prominent local business family, has reignited controversy over a previously canceled fourth cruise ship pier, raising questions about political alliances and campaign financing ahead of state elections.

Rafael Marin Mollinedo, the federal Welfare Delegate for the neighboring state of Yucatan, traveled to Cozumel on Sunday in what local media described as a de facto campaign stop for a potential gubernatorial run in Quintana Roo. His trip was arranged by the Molina family, Yucatecan entrepreneurs linked to the ferry company Aviomar and other regional businesses, who were key backers of the contentious fourth pier project.

Marin Mollinedo posted a photo of himself aboard one of the Molina family’s ferries, which departed Playa del Carmen at 7 a.m. for a private dock in Cozumel. The logistics of the “special trip,” comparable in cost to a private flight according to observers, have prompted scrutiny over who funded the travel and the nature of the official’s ties to the business interests.

Local political sources say the Molina family claims to have secured Marin Mollinedo’s commitment to revive the stalled pier project if he becomes governor. In return, the family reportedly offered the official access to their media outlet, “La Voz del Caribe,” for political promotion.

During the ferry crossing, Marin Mollinedo reportedly reiterated his full support for the fourth pier, a project that has faced significant social and environmental opposition on the island. However, his public event in Cozumel drew a sparse crowd, contrasting sharply with the elaborate logistical and media arrangements.

The Controversial Fourth Pier Project

The visit has sparked renewed concern among Cozumel residents who successfully fought to cancel the fourth cruise pier last year. The project, promoted by private investors including the Molina family and supported at times by past authorities, was criticized for posing risks to the island’s coral reefs.

In July 2025, the promoting company announced an indefinite pause due to public pressure. On September 11, 2025, Mexico’s Environment and Natural Resources Secretariat revoked the project’s environmental permits following appeals by island residents, citing potential harm to the marine ecosystem.

The process concluded on September 29, 2025, when President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the project’s definitive cancellation, citing overwhelming public rejection and the formal withdrawal of the environmental impact statement.

The project’s revival now appears tied to the Molina family’s backing of Marin Mollinedo’s political aspirations, particularly as his main rival for the governorship, Senator Gino Segura, was a leading political figure in the campaign to cancel the pier in 2025.