Construction Begins at Banana Coast in Honduras

Construction work begins in earnest this week at Banana Coast in Trujillo, Honduras, the only new Caribbean cruise destination currently in development.

The initial work is focused on preparing the approximately 10-acre beachfront site. A seawall is being constructed along the perimeter, the site is being elevated to 2 meters (6.5 feet) above sea level and civil infrastructure, including water, electrical and sewer lines, is being installed.

“With its colorful history and setting, Trujillo provides wonderful opportunities for both architecture and landscaping,” said Doug Kulig, chief executive officer of OBM International, the project’s architectural and design firm. “The key to the design is finding the right combination of a rewarding visitor experience and seamless site functionality.”

By December vertical construction of the 50,000-square-foot themed oceanfront shopping center and transportation hub is expected to be under way, with completion slated for late 2012.

“We are excited to reach this milestone in the development of our new port,” said Trujillo’s Mayor Jose Lianez. “The Municipality and other constituents have made major improvements to our colonial city’s visitor facilities in anticipation of receiving cruise guests. We hope that our efforts, and the charm of our citizens, will entice cruisers to return for longer visits to fully experience everything the area has to offer.”

OBM International has just released new renderings of the themed oceanfront shopping center at Banana Coast. OBMI also designed Royal Caribbean International's private island, CocoCay, and Carnival Corporation's Grand Turk Cruise Center, which received a Reader's Choice Award and an Editor-in-Chief Award from Porthole Magazine.

For information about Banana Coast, visit www.bananacoast.com.