The Galveston Wharves board of trustees gave the go-ahead for a fourth cruise terminal on Wednesday, approving a $5.3 million contract for engineering and architecture services.
MSC Cruises has been in negotiations with Galveston Wharves for the development of a terminal in the Texas port. MSC was not mentioned in a news release announcing the engineering contract.
In a statement MSC Cruises it "remains pleased with the ongoing negotiations surrounding the Port of Galveston's future Terminal 16."
Galveston is now one step closer to finalizing a budget and construction plans for a new terminal at Pier 16, said Rodger Rees, port director and CEO of Galveston Wharves. A new pier at the country's fourth-busiest cruise port could open as early as 2025, he said.
Galveston Wharves will hire Bermello Ajamil & Partners to design the terminal building, parking garage, marine structure improvements, passenger boarding bridge and civil improvements, including surface parking, access roads and utilities.
The board took an earlier, unanimous vote on Oct. 31 to move forward with the fourth terminal, according to Rees.
The Texas port is in a growth spurt. Royal Caribbean opened its Galveston terminal last November. Carnival Cruise Line will homeport the new Carnival Jubilee from Galveston when it debuts in late December, and the line will base four ships there in 2024. Princess Cruises is homeporting in Galveston this winter for the first time in six years.
This report was updated on Nov. 9 to add a comment from MSC Cruises.