New anchorage near Edinburgh brings more opportunities



Tuesday, August 4, 2015 - 09:25 by ce-press

On July 8 P&O Cruises’ Britannia called Forth Ports’ new anchorage point off Newhaven, near Leith, Edinburgh, with about 5,000 passengers on board. Opened this season, three more calls are expected in 2015.

The 141,000gt vessel was welcomed into the river by tugs displaying water cannons. It then took part in a ships’ horn welcome which could be heard across the city with ships in the vicinity all sounding their horns.

In a ceremony on board Britannia, Captain Paul Brown was presented with a gift from the City of Edinburgh by the deputy lord provost Steve Cardownie who welcomed the ship and her passengers to Scotland’s beautiful capital city.

Charles Hammond, chief executive Forth Ports, said: “We are thrilled to welcome the magnificent Britannia to Newhaven today. Forth Ports’ cruise business is an important economic generator for Scotland with the draw of Edinburgh being very attractive for cruise operators around the world. We have opened this anchorage this season as a permanent option for larger liners to call into the Forth and we look forward to welcoming more vessels this year.”

Cardownie added: “The two Britannias - one with 5,000 passengers and crew on board and the other with 300,000 visitors a year - in Edinburgh is great news for the capital’s ports. The new deep water anchorage that has been opened at the site is a positive step towards further reinvigorating the Newhaven and Leith area, and the city will certainly benefit from the increase in visitor footfall. It really is a spectacle to see them so close in Edinburgh’s waters.”

During Britannia’s day-long call at Newhaven, many passengers disembarked using a tender operation managed by Forth Ports. Bus tours included the iconic Falkirk Wheel, the Kelpies, the golfing attractions of St Andrews and the World Heritage Site of Edinburgh.
New anchorage near Edinburgh brings more opportunities
(c) Forth Ports


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