Puerto Vallarta’s National Port System Administration (ASIPONA) is planning a significant expansion of its maritime terminal to keep pace with the growing trend of larger “mega-cruisers” in the tourism industry. The proposed project aims to increase the capacity of all three existing piers, ensuring the port can continue to welcome the largest cruise ships.
Specifically, ASIPONA intends to extend Pier 1 by 70 meters, Pier 2 by 20 meters, and Pier 3 by 7 meters. These adjustments are crucial to allow the port to accommodate vessels up to 362 meters in length. Without these upgrades, Puerto Vallarta risks being unable to receive future generations of increasingly massive cruise ships. While the project is set to be funded by private investment, precise details regarding funding and construction timelines have not yet been released. Currently, the port’s piers can handle cruise ships with a maximum length of 334 meters.
Beyond pier expansion, ASIPONA is also exploring other development initiatives. One key project involves re-establishing an exclusive Mexican port cruise route, an endeavor previously attempted without success years ago. The goal is for Puerto Vallarta to serve as a home-port for medium-sized cruise ships on this route. Additionally, in the realm of cabotage, the port aims to become a ferry hub for the Puerto Vallarta-Islas Marías route, which ASIPONA believes holds strong commercial potential.
Source: Contralinea
