Background on the Project and Its Controversy
Cozumel, QROO. During her recent visit to Quintana Roo, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), stated that the proposed fourth cruise ship pier project in Cozumel presents “more problems than solutions,” pending legal definitions.
When directly asked if the project could be viable if relocated, Bárcena Ibarra affirmed it could be, but “not in Cozumel.” She mentioned that many aspects were insufficiently considered during the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, including incomplete information.
Review of EIS and Potential Revocation
The EIS for this project was authorized between 2021 and 2022, but it is currently under review due to activists’ claims of deliberately false information to downplay the pier’s impact on the Vilablanca coral reef.
“I cannot yet say what legal action we will take, but I can confirm that we are examining all citizen evidence,” Bárcena Ibarra explained.
In a separate interview, Adrián Villegas, an oceanographer and member of the Citizen Collective of Cozumel Island, revealed that they are nearing completion of a technical study that will provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate the erroneous information in the authorized EIS. This, according to Villegas, minimizes the project’s real impact on the Vilablanca coral reef, which serves as a resource collector and connects to the Cozumel Coral Reefs National Park, a protected area.
Project Details
The fourth cruise ship pier is one of 39 projects under the Economic Reactivation Agreement announced by the previous federal administration and private initiative in early October 2020.
The terminal spans 2,354 hectares, featuring an “L”-shaped pier on 1.16 hectares built on 774 steel piles, accommodating vessels up to 362 meters long, 66 meters wide, and with a draft of 9.32 meters. It is located on Rafael E. Melgar Avenue, kilometer 3+625 in the island.
The project includes a two-story terrestrial building covering 1.1 hectares for passenger arrival and embarkation, as well as an open-air commercial plaza with various businesses and waiting areas for tours and excursions.
It also features a concrete pier-type platform with an elevator, pedestrian stairs, and three electric stairways leading to a pedestrian bridge.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the fourth cruise ship pier project in Cozumel? It’s one of 39 projects under the Economic Reactivation Agreement, aiming to boost Quintana Roo’s economy.
- What concerns have been raised about this project? Semarnat’s Secretary, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, mentioned insufficient consideration of aspects in the Environmental Impact Statement and possible false information.
- What is the potential impact on the Vilablanca coral reef? Oceanographer Adrián Villegas claims that a technical study will demonstrate erroneous information in the EIS, minimizing the project’s real impact on the reef.
- What are the project details? The terminal spans 2,354 hectares, featuring an “L”-shaped pier, a two-story building, open-air commercial plaza, and pedestrian bridge.
