Works Minister Derrick Burgess has signed an agreement allowing land to be reclaimed from the sea at Dockyard to build a pier for mega cruise ships.

It paves the way for the second phase of a project to accommodate Panamax and Post-Panamax ships capable of holding many thousands of visitors which could transform the old naval town into a new tourism hub of Bermuda.

Mr. Burgess has signed an agreement between Government and the West End Development Corporation (WEDCO) which outlines 8.2 acres of land adjoining North Breakwater in Dockyard.

It states that the land will be used for a pier, ground transportation area, terminal building and new 36-foot wide bridge to replace the existing 25-foot North Arm Bridge.

Phase one of the project, already underway, involves piling, pier infrastructure, a temporary access road and methods to limit noise.

Government unveiled the plans for a new cruise ship pier in its 2007 Budget, with the job contracted to Correia Construction.