MSC Cruises has broken ground on a new private island project in the Bahamas.

The island, called Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, is located south of Bimini and will likely begin welcoming cruise passengers as of November 2018.

The new island development is part of the company’s larger $10.2 billion investment plan.

The first phase of the project will see the island cleared of existing industrial infrastructure so it can be turned into a “pristine marine reserve.”

“Working in partnership with the Government of The Bahamas, our aim is to turn an industrial wasteland into a thriving environment for man and nature alike, bringing the island and its surrounding waters back to their original stat,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises. “In so doing, we will substantially grow our Group’s already strong investment in the Bahamian economy, offering long-term employment opportunities to the local population.”

The island, which is about 65 miles east of Miami, has 11,400 feet of coastline.

A landscaping plan will see more than 80 indigenous Caribbean trees, grasses, flowers and shrubs, planted on the island, returning to their lush natural habitat, the company said.

— Caribbean Journal Staff