A new cruise berth and terminal at Arendal in Gothenburg will be ready for use in April 2011. The berth will serve the largest cruise vessels that are unable to pass under the bridge, Älvborgsbron, and today have to berth in the Skandiahamnen container terminal.
This year 16 out of 41 calls to the Swedish port were accommodated at the container terminal. The remainder, those under 45m air draught, passed under the bridge and came alongside at the Frimhamnen terminal which was opened in 2009 in the heart of the city.
The Port of Gothenburg is investing in the new terminal which is in a pleasant harbour setting with cafes, restaurants and a marina and is just 100m from the Volvo museum in Arendal. “Passengers can move around freely and they can easily make their way into the city by bus [15 minutes] or boat,” says Jill Soderwall, head of cruise operations at the port.
Cruise calls have risen from five in 2002 to 41 this year. Passengers numbered 51,730 this year, of which 37% were German, 27% British and 18% American. Based on an average spend of SEK900 (E96), this season generated SEK46.5m (E5m) for the city without including port charges and hotel nights.
Next year the port is already expecting 44 calls but on December 1 Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral will visit on a Christmas cruise.
