News Archive

15/10/2022

New member: Hareid

Hareid in Norway is a cruise destination in development and, as yet, has had no cruise calls. However it has local and regional ferry calls and so has plenty of experience of handling passengers. There is one quay, Hareid Godsterminal, of about 120m length and 6-7m draught, just 100m from the village centre. The quay is ISPS ready. Potable water and waste disposal facilities are available. LSF and LNG can be provided as necessary. There are two anchorage options to facilitate ships of all sizes. The tender quay is about 800m away. There is a small passenger terminal with rest rooms and food and beverage available. Tourist information and additional rest rooms are available in the Town Hall nearby. The port authorities are planning for a separate deepwater cruise quay close to the village centre. Bent Arild Grytten, harbour master Hareid Kommune, comments: “We are also investigating the possibility of installing a floating quay - Sea Walk - instead. In addition there is a third option being considered, which is also close to the village centre. “Detail projecting must be done before further specifications can be released. The municipal council must approve the final plans before the project can be launched.” In addition additional terminal functions with crew facilities are being planned and onshore power is being discussed. Free WiFi will be made available in the village centre alongside shops and cafes. Hareid is a cruise destination under development, with port regulations being updated to be consistent with cruiseship calls, explains Grytten. In terms of costs, the intention is to keep prices competitive and according to industry standard. The nearest airports are located in Alesund/Vigra and Hovden. Shore excursions are being developed but nearby attractions include The Polar Museum (five minutes), the bird island of Runde (35 minutes) and the tiny village of Hjoerundfjorden by boat.

15/10/2022

Le Havre embarks on a €99 million development project

Le Havre has launched a massive new project aimed at sustainably welcoming more cruiseships and passengers to this iconic French city. With a record 420,000 passengers in 2018, bringing roughly €35 million of economical benefits to the Normandy region, the port is now looking at about 600,000 passengers in 2030, a 44.7 percent increase. This is based on European traffic projections and the growth of the cruise market. To achieve its goal, a new administration and operation structure - GIP Le Havre Croisieres with Valerie Conan as cruise director - has been created by Le Havre Seine Metropole and HAROPA Port. The total project cost is estimated at €99 million and will be funded by the above organisations, as well as the State and the Normandy region. Improving the connection of the Pointe de Floride with the city centre is a vital part of the development programme which is underway. Of equal importance within the cruise development project is the creation of three new, larger and more comfortable terminals between 2023 and 2025, on a usable area of 15,000m2. Thus Le Havre will be able to receive up to 13,500 passengers per day. The installation of Terminal 1 on the north bank will consist of demolishing the existing Terminals 1, 2 and 3 to create a new building that will host the same functions as the two previous terminals. Terminal 1 will accommodate ships up to 330m in length. The roof of this new building will be accessible to the public and will offer a unique view of the entrance to the port, the rebuilt UNESCO-listed centre of Le Havre and the layout of the Grand Quai. The establishment of Terminals 2 and 3 on the south bank will consist of a renovation and an expansion of the existing hangars 12 and 13 to house the functions of reception, check-in, control, services and preparation for passengers boarding, as well as technical and administrative functions related to the management of the activity. A covered parking area is also expected and the planned surfaces will make it possible to accommodate the largest cruise ships and to operate full turnarounds (6,000 passengers). The new buildings will be positive energy thanks to the contribution of a vast photovoltaic roof and very sober operating conditions. All the docks dedicated to maritime cruises will be electrified before the end of 2025 to allow the connection of ships, favouring them to switch off their machines during their stopovers. The electrical power delivered will be 10 mW per dock, which will avoid 100 tonnes of CO2 and two tonnes of other polluting emissions during the 12 hours of a ship’s call. Please also check out this video link to the project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRYkVF6fjYs

15/10/2022

Hamburg prepares for onshore power at Cruise Center Steinwerder

Construction work to supply onshore power (OPS) at Cruise Center Steinwerder began in autumn 2022, with completion scheduled for the second half of 2023. This will be the second OPS for cruiseships in Hamburg, following that at Cruise Center Altona, which has been in operation since June 2016. Shorepower at Cruise Center HafenCity will be available once the terminal opens for the cruise season in 2024.   By 2025, Hamburg will be one of the first ports in Europe to offer OPS for both cruiseships and large container ships, five years earlier than EU requirements stipulate.   Simone Maraschi, managing director Cruise Gate Hamburg, comments: “We are aware of the fact that ports play a crucial role in decarbonisation and air pollution control. That is why it is important for us to do everything we can to make our contribution and to take on a pioneering and exemplary role. “The expansion of the shorepower supply in the Port of Hamburg is another important step in developing the cruise tourism in Hamburg sustainably. We would like to send out a clear signal for more environmental protection and meet the increasing global demand for climate-neutral and environmentally friendly cruising.“   The cruise business generates a gross value added contribution of €420 million a year for Hamburg and its metropolitan region, according to a 2019 study conducted by Hamburg Cruise Net eV and the City of Hamburg. This corresponds to the creation of approximately 4,490 full-time jobs beyond direct employment with the cruise lines.

15/10/2022

AIDAprima is first to be bunkered with sustainable biofuels in Rotterdam

On July 22, GoodFuels completed its first bio-bunkering for a large passenger ship in partnership with AIDA Cruises, marking an important step forward to achieving sustainability in the cruise industry. AIDAprima was refuelled during a port visit to Rotterdam. The trial took place while the vessel was on a seven-day cruise visiting Hamburg, Southampton, Le Havre and Zeebrugge. The next generation sustainable biofuel is derived from feedstocks that are certified as 100% waste or residue, with no land-use issues and no competition with food production or deforestation. It enables a well-to-exhaust CO2 reduction of 80 to 90 percent when compared to fossil fuels, according to GoodFuels. Due to its ‘drop-in’ properties, the ship was bunkered without requiring any modifications to the engine or tanks. Felix Eichhorn, president AIDA Cruises, comments: “With the successful start of biofuel usage, we have proven that gradual decarbonisation is possible even on ships already in service. “An important prerequisite for us as a cruise line to be able to use it is that it becomes widely available on an industrial scale and at marketable prices.”

15/10/2022

Tromso promotes year-round calls

Being in the north of Norway the different seasons during a year is very visible and different. From months with midnight sun and daylight all around the clock to polar nights where the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon, as well as the periods in between, Tromso experiences a fascinating transformation in the nature. “This is a natural part of our everyday life, and we know how to handle and operate in both heavy snow and sunny nights,” says Harriet Willassen, marketing and communication manager Port of Tromso. “This, combined with a vibrant city life and greats attractions and activities, makes Tromso a popular destination for visitors all year round.”   The Norwegian port has welcomed cruiseships year-round for some years now. This year 172 calls are scheduled, of which 33 are in the winter (January to March), 17 in the spring (April and May), 82 in the summer (June to August) and 40 in the fall (September to December).   In addition calls are lasting longer. From a total average of 9.6 hours in 2019, the average length of stay in 2022 is 14.4 hours, giving passengers and crew more hours to experience the city and the variety of attractions, activities, and city life.   In addition, the port has focused on the benefits of using Tromso as a turnaround port, resulting in increased operations in recent years and for future bookings.   “It is very satisfying to see these concrete results of our strategy towards the cruise segment,” says Willassen. “We sincerely believe our region has a great potential for the cruise industry. Tromso is accredited as a sustainable destination so for us it is crucial that also the cruiseline activities are in close cooperation with local ports and destinations.”

15/10/2022

Edinburgh plays host to the 100th call

On September 27 Emerald Princess sailed up the River Forth into South Queensferry marking the 100th cruise call for Capital Cruising (CC). Rob Mason, head of cruise CC Scotland, says: “The cruise business is a major economic boost for Scotland and the local areas where the liners call, with many local businesses and attractions benefitting from the tourism spend. “We have welcomed 25 inaugural visits from cruiseliners this year across our ports and anchorages in Scotland and, across our Group, we are expecting to welcome nearly 200 cruise vessels which is encouraging news as people return to cruise.” Earlier this year CC hosted the Cruise Europe Conference with around 200 cruise executives from around the world attending the largest cruise event ever to be held in Edinburgh. Scotland is a major draw for the cruise market, Edinburgh in particular is a ‘must-see’.

15/10/2022

Turku adds passenger welcome during record season

The Baltic Sea region has undergone an unusual season this year, given the challenges presented by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and hence St Petersburg being taken off itineraries.   Annika Schulman, assistant executive Port of Turku, says: “We have been extremely lucky to be one of the ports that have gained calls in these challenging [and tragic] circumstances, ending up having a record year of cruise calls: 21 calls and 15,711 passengers. “This has been well noted also by the local media and entrepreneurs, who have welcomed this positive development in our tourism industry.”   In collaboration with the City of Turku, the port has shown that it can handle several calls in a row and sometimes two cruiseships at a time. “The feedback we have received has been really warming and it has been very interesting to work with all these beautiful cruiseships and their different requests and requirements,” says Schulman.   Visit Turku has also been very active, providing the passengers with non-stop complimentary shuttle buses to and from the city centre, as well as tourist information and maps that are handed out on the pier. Schulman comments: “Due to this successful season, we have decided to offer local entertainment on the pier during the coming season as well, such as music, dancing or other local cultural acts, as we have seen that it is very much appreciated by the cruise passengers.”

15/10/2022

Skagen’s new and extra cruise pier helps record numbers

Although the number of calls booked for Skagen for 2022 went up and down due to itinerary changes and a few cancellations caused by bad weather during spring, the Danish port ended up with 53 calls, 10 up from the previous record of 43 calls in 2018. 
In early September - with eight calls to come - about 70,000 passengers had visited Skagen this season. Anne Sofie Ronne Jensen, cruise manager Cruise Skagen, commented: “Although the visiting cruiseships have not been sailing with full guest capacity it is still the highest number of guests so far: 66,000 in 2019.” The 2022 season also counts 14 first calls from cruiselines such as: Princess Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Viking Cruises, MSC Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Ambassador Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Hurtigruten and Oceania Cruises. During the 2022 cruise season, the port started using the new, extra cruise pier, which was completed in March 2021, and which allows cruise vessels with an overall length of up 300m to dock.

15/10/2022

Riga welcomes 10 millionth passenger

The Freeport of Riga Authority (FRA) welcomed the 10 millionth passenger (including ferries) to the city on August 7. Tanja Cassandra Karina Bittner from Bavaria, her husband and young son along with fellow passengers on Costa Fascinosa, were greeted with a concert as they disembarked. The family took the cruise because they were interested in the history and architecture of the Baltic States, explains Jelena Burdastova, business department FRA. They were treated to a special evening programme, which was arranged as a surprise gift by the FRA. “All evening I felt like in a fairy tale! We will definitely come back to Riga again,” said Bittner after the festive dinner at the historical House of the Blackheads. Costa Cruises’ ships called Riga for the first time in 2005. Since then eight different cruiseships have called 52 times, providing 145,000 passengers with an opportunity to visit Riga. “This city is a very well appreciated destination and part of the reason why our guests, especially German, choose their Costa cruise in the North Europe,” commented Costa Fascinosa Captain Mario Moretta. More than 80,000 foreign tourists are expected to visit Riga on cruiseships this season. The majority are from Germany and the USA, as well as from Great Britain, Sweden and Canada. A record number of cruise ship calls - more than 100 - is expected in the port of Riga during 2022 cruise season, which will exceed the results of the last completed 2019 cruise season by a quarter. Of these vessels, 13 ships are visiting us for the first time this season, and around 20 cruise ships have stayed or will stay in Riga for more than one day. The last arrivals of cruise ships this season are scheduled for October this year. Since 2000, about 1,600 calls on more than 200 different cruiseships, have been registered in the port of Riga, bringing about 1.2 million passengers from a total of more than 124 countries.

13/10/2022

Porto Cruise Terminal welcomed the maiden call of the Portuguese WORLD TRAVELLER cruise ship

The WORLD TRAVELLER is the fourth expedition ship built by West Sea at the Port of Viana do Castelo (Portugal) shipyards. The ship is owned by Mystic Invest (via the subsidiary Mystic Cruises) owned by the Portuguese businessman Mário Ferreira and operated by Atlas Ocean Voyages (based in the US owned by Mystic Invest). She was recently launched and designed for operations in the polar regions (Arctic and Antarctica). The WORLD TRAVELLER arrived at the Port of Leixões on October 7 and some special guests were invited to visit the ship and the Porto Cruise Terminal during the day. The ship overnight at Leixões and on October 8, was open to the public. The WORLD TRAVELLER OPEN DAY was attended by 1.200 visitors who had the opportunity to meet this fantastic Portuguese cruise ship as well as our Porto Cruise Terminal. A Plaque Exchange Ceremony took place at the Terminal quay celebrating the maiden call of the WORLD TRAVELLER at the Port of Leixões and it was broadcasted live by a Portuguese Television Channel.

04/10/2022

Lerwick on course in rebuilding cruise traffic

Successful season foreshadows continuing upturn in 2023 Lerwick Harbour is on course in restoring cruise traffic at the Shetland port in the aftermath of Covid-19 restrictions, with the first full season since 2019. The final arrival this season was Nicko Cruises 55,877 gross tonne Vasco De Gama carrying 466 passengers, the 94th ship to visit in 2022. She berthed at Mair’s Pier, en route from Stavanger, Norway, to Kirkwall. Stormy weather in northern waters has forced Hurtigruten to call off a visit by its vessel Spitsbergen on Thursday 6 October which was the last scheduled arrival of Lerwick’s season. Melanie Henderson, Lerwick Port Authority Cruise & Marketing Manager, said: “Although initial predictions of record highs in 2022 were not quite reached due to itineraries changing and unseasonable spring and summer weather in the North Sea, our season bounced back with vigour. “A key to the success was the tremendous response by the islands’ tourism and transport businesses, despite the post-pandemic challenges and staff shortages. As the restrictions were lifted, guests explored independently, rather than in bubbles, returning benefits for local retailers and adding to the vibrancy in the town centre. “Cruise lines have made considerable efforts to restore activity in what has been an extremely difficult time for the industry.” Many smaller expedition vessels also made the most of Shetland’s unique geography by visiting outlying islands too. Passenger numbers were down 23% on the 2019 total at 58,450 as operators continue to rebuild occupancy. The predominant nationalities were from the USA, Germany and the UK. Shetland’s increasing popularity is reflected in strong advance bookings, currently up 40% for the 2023 season, from late March to October. There is optimism for continued growth in the sector, both in passenger numbers and the introduction of new tonnage. Cruise ships visiting during the international Tall Ships Races will contribute to the spectacle of the magnificent maritime event being hosted at Lerwick between 26-29 July, with passengers enjoying free access to the event. There has been nineteen tall ship visits this year.

20/09/2022

CELEBRITY APEX First Call at Porto Cruise Terminal

On September 17, the Porto Cruise Terminal welcomed the inaugural call of the CELEBRITY APEX cruise ship. The ship was on a 12 days voyage from Amsterdam to Civitavecchia (Rome) with almost 2.700 passengers on board, mostly from North America. This itinerary included visits to La Rochelle, Bilbao, La Coruña, Lisbon, Cadiz, Gibraltar and Cartagena. The CELEBRITY APEX is one of the newest ships operated by Celebrity Cruises and is 306 meters long and 130.818 GT. As usual, a Plaques Exchange Ceremony was held at the Porto Cruise Terminal with Port Authorities and ship’s Captain celebrating the first visit of CELEBRITY APEX to the port.

02/09/2022

Portland Port Undertakes £26 Million Berth Development

Portland Port is embarking on its largest and most ambitious improvement project to date, investing £26 million in a major berth development. The port has applied for, and had approved, all the necessary permissions to carry out the project. The development will see the existing Deep Water Berth (DWB) removed, and replaced with a brand new, extended berth. In addition, the works will deliver a 74m extension to the solid quay face of our current primary cruise berth, the Outer Coaling Pier (OCP). The outcome of the development works will be a brand new DWB with a 250m solid berth face, including a suite of new 150t bollards and with 12m water depth alongside, capable of handling cruise ships up to 350m long. In addition, OCP will be extended to produce a 250m solid berth face with 11m water depth alongside. Overall the project will deliver 16,000m2 of additional quayside space and be capable of handling two 350m LOA cruise ships alongside at the same time. Alex Hayes, Landside General Manager at Portland Port, is overseeing the project and commented that ‘This is a key investment for the port and demonstrates our commitement to the continued development of our infrastructure. The project has taken a lot of time and planning to take it from its initial conception though to implementation. There is still a lot of work to be done before the project is complete, however the outcome will be a milestone for the port and its future.’ During the tender process, pre-qualifications were sent out to 20 applicants. Knights Brown are the Managing Contractor with Ramboll undertaking the design work as Principal Designer. Ramboll have used their expertise in the design of quay walls to minimise the tonnage of steel required as well as maximising the use of locally available rock within the works. The piling works has been awarded to Red 7 Marine. Red 7 Marine and the port have worked successfully together before, during the construction of the two new dolphins on OCP in 2017. Red 7 Marine is an experienced marine company which has developed and grown consistently since 1999. Along with Red 7 Marine, local contractors Barrett Electrical, D&M Groundworks, ESG Trading, Pipefix and Quest Marine will also be involved in supporting the works. The preparatory works are already underway and, once complete, the development will have used 380,000 tonnes of locally sourced infill material and 4,800 tonnes of steel. The piling works are due to commence at the beginning of October with the both OCP and DWB being fully operational by 1st May 2023. The initial surface finish of the quayside will be temporary but heavy duty, to allow for settling, with final surfacing works due to take place between October 2023 and February 2024. Ian McQuade, Portland Port’s Commercial General Manager said that ‘this development will provide a major and significant enhancement to the port’s capabilities. The new facilities will enable Portland Port to keep pace with the increasing demands from our existing cruise and cargo customers whilst offering the opportunity for future growth. The size of vessels calling at Portland over the last number of years has continued to grow and this investment will enable our business to keep ahead of this trend”. Ian McQuade added “This is the largest investment Portland Port has ever undertaken and it is a resounding vote of confidence in the business by the company’s owners. The future looks very exciting for the port”.

02/09/2022

Torshavn invests millions in improved facilities

The Port of Torshavn is investing around DKK500 million (€67.2 million) in developing three further quays and building a passenger terminal. The project which was nine years in the making - given the planning and required permits - is almost complete with just 70m of quayside still to go. Harbour master Andrias Vang says: “We expect the whole project to be concluded and handed over this autumn.” The new facility will be able to accommodate both cargo and cruiseships and means that the ships are no longer sharing just one quay. Large cruiseships will now be able to come alongside the existing 300m-long quay, which has a depth of 9m. Extending the width of this pier, allows for the building of a terminal which will be able to accommodate 800 passengers. This will cater to a regular ferry on the new 300m outer quay (depth 14.5m) and also be accessible from the existing inner quay. At present passengers are taken by shuttle bus to a ferry terminal elsewhere, but the new terminal means that it will be just a 10-minute walk into the city centre. The authorities will also be housed in the terminal for immigration and passport control. “We are looking forward to the new terminal which we hope will be ready for the 2024 cruise season. It will be super smooth, back and forth, and when passengers walk out the other side of the building, they will be outside the ISPS area and in the city,” explains Vang. Waste discharge at the quay is by truck and there is a freshwater pipeline connection already in place. In preparation for onshore power, Vang says that pipes have been built into the new quayside with plans to grow these to the existing (cruise) pier in the future. He explains: “The cables are not there yet, but we are working with a power supply company in the Faroes about how we can continue. It is in our plans to have shore power available. There is no timeline at present but we are continuously ongoing in the planning phase.” The two further quays are 175m and 400m in length with a depth of 14.5-15m. This year 53 calls were booked but 17 have been cancelled so far. Some due to extreme weather and the others it seems were due to cruiseline itinerary plans, which show originally scheduled ships now sailing in different parts of the world. Next year about 50 calls are scheduled. Geographically the Faroes is between the mainland and Iceland with cruiseships deployed in the region en route to/from Iceland which makes Torshavn a convenient stop. Vang says: “It is a good and safe harbour to arrive into. The tour operators are quite professional and experienced. There are some good and interesting tours in and around Torshavn.” Vang has been in the position since March and says that cruise is an important part of the port’s business: “We prioritise cruise. We really hope and do our utmost to make the cruiselines feel welcome and offer a facility that is what they need.” Although the port will now be able to accommodate two large cruiseships, he is aware that there may be limitations. “We cannot fill up the harbour with cruise vessels and expect someone else to take over. We are a small country. So far the tour operators can manage. “We will continue to use the quayside we have now but we will have more availability. We will now be able to facilitate every vessel going forward. Cruiselines will not see refusals from us because of being congested.” What is really important to Vang and the port is that: “Going forward it will be a cruise facility. At the moment it is a cargo harbour taking in cruiseships”.

02/09/2022

Stornoway’s Deep Water Terminal to begin operations in 2024

Stornoway’s Deep Water Terminal will be ready to offer a new gateway to the Outer Hebrides ahead of the 2024 season. Work on the transformational facility, able to accommodate vessels up to 360m in length and 10m draught, began in spring this year, after Stornoway Port Authority signed a £49 million (€56.6 million) construction contract with building and civil engineering firm, McLaughlin and Harvey. The major development will establish Stornoway as the only port in the Outer Hebrides where large ships can come alongside. It will enable the islands to realise their full potential as a call on UK cruise itineraries, being an overnight sail to and from Greenock, Invergordon, Orkney and Belfast. Alex MacLeod, chief executive of Stornoway Port Authority, said: “It is fantastic to be able to confirm that this facility will be ready well in time for the 2024 cruise season. After a number of years of planning and hard work along with our partners, which included overcoming the challenges presented by the Covid pandemic, it is very exciting to have reached the construction stage of this vital project. It will bring transformative and sustainable change to the economy of the Outer Hebrides.” A number of cruiselines have already confirmed calls at the new berth for the 2024 season and Stornoway Port Authority is expecting many more bookings in the months ahead. The Deep Water Terminal is expected to deliver a major boost to the economy, by bringing more tourists to Lewis and Harris. There are two quays in this multifunctional project, the main one being able to accommodate ships up to 360m in length. There is no passenger building as this is not a turnaround port, but like a number of other similar ports, on certain occasions there may be marquees in place. The new berths will be within walking distance of the centre of Stornoway, the main town and capital of the Outer Hebrides and shuttle busses will be available for passengers. Michelle Lupino, Ambassador Cruise Line’s head of destination management, commented: “We’ve waited a long time and are delighted to see this new facility at Stornoway in time for the 2024 season. The islands of Lewis and Harris have much to interest our guests in terms of history and nature and thanks to this new development, we are now able to look at additional overnight calls, to take in the local folklore and evening entertainment.” Among the islands’ attractions are Harris Tweed, the 5,000-year-old Lewis Chessmen, traditional Blackhouse villages and some stunning beaches.

02/09/2022

A Coruna improves its facilities

The Port of A Coruna has made a strong recovery following the resumption of cruise business post the Covid pandemic. After having received 31 calls and more than 30,000 passengers in the last months of 2021, the port expects to exceed 140 calls and 180,000 passengers this year. This marks a new record for the port and follows significant growth in the previous decade. Numbers for 2023 are estimated to be similar to 2022. The port is further improving its cruiseship facilities: the Calvo Sotelo south quay is being enabled to accommodate cruiseships in the case of double calls which are becoming increasingly common. As of this summer, the quay will no longer accommodate cargo traffic. The port authority is refurbishing it for its new use as a passenger-dedicated quay. The investment reaches €0.5 million, including the construction of a new access, the implementation of the necessary security elements and the commissioning of a provisional terminal/tent which is implemented on a case by case basis. The Calvo Sotelo quay (420m in length) will thus have direct communication with the city centre, in a new environment whereby a part of the port is being integrated into the city. that is being created due to the liberation of spaces and its opening up to residents by way of cultural and leisure activities. The Transatlantic quay remains as an exclusive berth for cruise vessels and is used on one-ship days. Two small or one large can be accommodated at the 484m-long, 11m draught quay.

02/09/2022

Cruise brings £30 million to Liverpool in next two years

As ships docking in the city return to pre-pandemic capacity, tourism numbers are on the up and that could spell good news for Liverpool, a city council report has identified. More than 100 operations are expected into Liverpool Cruise Terminal during 2022, the busiest season to date. With more than 200,000 passengers expected to contribute to the visitor economy, an impact of around £15 million (€17.4 million) is expected to benefit the city this year. A further £16 million is being forecast for 2023, with 109 cruise operations slated for next year. A report to the local authority’s culture and visitor economy committee stated that £2.25 million is generated through Fred Olsen Cruise Lines annually, with the company operating on the Mersey for almost two decades. The report added that the Suffolk-headquartered firm had continued to commit 30 operations per year into Liverpool and had made reservations as far in advance as December 2024. It is estimated that the cruise industry will take a further ‘one to two years’ to fully recover, according to the report, with one company, loyal to Liverpool, falling by the wayside during the pandemic, Cruise and Maritime Voyages. In 2021, Liverpool Cruise Terminal welcomed over 90 calls. The terminal, along with other UK cruise ports, were instrumental in lobbying government to include domestic cruising from May 17 last year. The utilisation of the ACC complex as a satellite cruise terminal has now been stood down, but the long-stay passenger parking element has been retained at the new Kings Dock car park, generating a new income stream to the local authority. “Given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the council is currently assessing timescales and likelihood of market growth for taking this scheme forward to the next stage but remains committed to developing Liverpool Cruise Terminal to support growth,” stated the report. It is expected a further £1.2 million is to be generated at the terminal from berthing fees, the strongest year to date, with an economic impact of around £14 million. The report also stated: “Significant strides are being made to identify other sources of income such as working vessels at the cruise terminal. Through additional calls from working vessels and the Royal Navy, Liverpool Cruise Terminal will generate circa £80,000 income from non-cruise business.”

02/09/2022

Zaandam becomes the largest cruiseship to berth at Scrabster

Holland America Line’s Zaandam became the largest vessel to ever berth at the Caithness port of Scrabster when she visited on July 30. The 61,396gt vessel arrived from Dublin with around 1,400 passengers on board and moored alongside the 250m east berth of the recently redeveloped St Ola Pier. The passengers enjoyed a number of excursions around the local area before departing for the Icelandic port of Seydisfjordur. The port is presently working with local partners in building up shore excursion offerings further. The Scrabster call is part of a 19-day itinerary, Voyage of the Vikings, which embarked in Rotterdam, Holland, and finishes in the US port of Boston. Jason Hamilton, harbour master Scrabster Harbour Trust, said: “The visit of Zaandam highlights the improved facilities and additional capacity we now have at Scrabster. We are looking forward to further large vessel calls before our 2022 season ends in September. Our 2023 numbers are well up on 2022.” The port is ideally located to catch passing trade on the north coast of the Highlands of Scotland with many vessels passing by as they transit east and west, according to Hamilton. “With higher fuel prices it makes economic and environmental sense for ships to visit ports within a smaller geographic area.”

02/09/2022

Island Princess' inaugural call to Dover has a sustainable twist

On August 10, Princess Cruises’ Island Princess called Dover for the first time. This inaugural call was made extra special by the fact that she was transporting the port’s sustainable Seatrade stand back to the UK from Miami. The 2019 stand, made entirely from recycled plastic, has now been repurposed in order to ensure it never returns to the sea or landfill. The port has now recycled the plastic into four sets of children’s chairs and tables for use by schools and kid’s clubs. At the traditional plaque presentation, Sonia Limbrick, Port of Dover’s head of cruise, said: “We are thrilled to be able to gift a set of the recycled table and chairs to Island Princess as a thank you for their help and as a valuable learning opportunity for children on board to learn about ocean plastic and the importance of recycling.” The chairs each have sticker on the back that tells the story of the plastic being retrieved from the ocean, recycled into an exhibition stand and ultimately becoming several table and chair sets. Captain Lorentzen added: “We were delighted to assist with the return of the port’s sustainable Seatrade stand; ensuring that it was able to journey back to the UK contributing zero additional emissions.” In terms of cruise calls, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines returned to Dover in August, offering a selection of late summer cruises to destinations including Norway, France, Spain and the Adriatic, on board flagship Bolette through to and including October. From September to November Balmoral will homeport the Kent port. Clare Ward, director of product and customer service FOCL, said: “We have offered cruises from Dover for many years, and we are really pleased to be returning again this summer. Our ships always receive such a warm welcome. Our journey planners have hand-crafted these late summer sailings specially, taking advantage of the south-easterly location of the port to maximise the experiences on-board and ashore for our guests.”

02/09/2022

Tom Dynes joins ABP Southampton

Associated British Ports (ABP) has appointed Tom Dynes as general manager of landside operations for its Southampton region, effective September 19. Tom started as a graduate trainee with ABP Southampton over a decade ago, later managing port security and operations before joining Solent Stevedores in 2014, where he has been responsible for the company’s Southampton business unit, which comprises seven terminals and over 100 full-time employees. In his new role at ABP, Tom will lead the planning and activity of all landside operations, including cruise. *In early August Sky Princess became the sixth cruise ship to be commissioned for shore power in Southampton since the facility went live in spring 2022.

31/08/2022

Ports of Stockholm breaks ground to build Sweden’s first cruise ship onshore power connection facilities

Ports of Stockholm is investing in the environment by building onshore power connection facilities for cruise ships at two city centre quays. This environmental initiative will result in significantly lower air pollution emissions in Stockholm and the Baltic Sea. The groundbreaking ceremony to begin building onshore power connections for cruise ships took place during the World Water Week 2022. Building the facilities at Stadsgården quay berths 167 and 160 makes Ports of Stockholm the first port in Sweden to offer cruise ships onshore power connection. “We are now taking a huge next step towards being an international class sustainable cruise destination. Onshore power connection for cruise ships in the city centre is an important joint environmental initiative that Ports of Stockholm is part of, together with other Baltic Sea ports," explains Joakim Larsson, City Commissioner responsible for Ports of Stockholm. The environmental initiative is a collaboration with other Baltic Sea ports. It will result in significantly lower emissions of carbon dioxide and air pollutant particles from the cruise ships in Stockholm and the Baltic Sea area. Ports of Stockholm is working with the ports in Copenhagen, Aarhus and Helsinki to enable cruise ships and shipping companies to connect to onshore power of a common international standard in all of the different ports. This will encourage more shipping companies to make the major investments in equipment that the ships need to connect to onshore power. “It feels really good that we will also be able to connect cruise ships to onshore power next season. This will be the first facility of its kind in Sweden, and one of only a few in Europe. The cruise passengers are very important to Stockholm financially, and generate over 1,000 jobs in the region," says Thomas Andersson, CEO Ports of Stockholm. The work to equip the two city centre quays with onshore power connections will be completed, respectively, in 2023 and 2024. These cruise quay-berths are two of Ports of Stockholm’s most visited. It is estimated that at least 45 percent of the cruise ship calls will be able to connect to onshore power when the facilities are in place. The total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions will be at least 6,000 tonnes each year as a result of connecting to onshore power. This environmental investment for cruise ships in Stockholm is a top priority and has been awarded grant funding from both the EU and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Leap program. Facts international cruises Stockholm In 2019 just over 656,000 cruise passengers and an additional 240,000 crew members visited Stockholm. Collectively they spent more than EUR 57 million on hotel rooms, food, sightseeing excursions, shopping etc. In addition, the cruise shipping companies spent a total of EUR 25 million on harbour dues, pilotage dues and fairway dues in Stockholm. The cruise industry therefore contributes hugely to the Stockholm region, generating a total economic effect of almost EUR 176 million and creating around 1,100 jobs. Stockholm is a popular cruise destination and the majority of cruise passengers state that they are very satisfied with their visit.

29/08/2022

Ports of Stockholm breaks ground to build Sweden’s first cruise ship onshore power connection facilities

Ports of Stockholm is investing in the environment by building onshore power connection facilities for cruise ships at two city centre quays. This environmental initiative will result in significantly lower air pollution emissions in Stockholm and the Baltic Sea. The groundbreaking ceremony to begin building onshore power connections for cruise ships took place during the World Water Week 2022. Building the facilities at Stadsgården quay berths 167 and 160 makes Ports of Stockholm the first port in Sweden to offer cruise ships onshore power connection. “We are now taking a huge next step towards being an international class sustainable cruise destination. Onshore power connection for cruise ships in the city centre is an important joint environmental initiative that Ports of Stockholm is part of, together with other Baltic Sea ports," explains Joakim Larsson, City Commissioner responsible for Ports of Stockholm. The environmental initiative is a collaboration with other Baltic Sea ports. It will result in significantly lower emissions of carbon dioxide and air pollutant particles from the cruise ships in Stockholm and the Baltic Sea area. Ports of Stockholm is working with the ports in Copenhagen, Aarhus and Helsinki to enable cruise ships and shipping companies to connect to onshore power of a common international standard in all of the different ports. This will encourage more shipping companies to make the major investments in equipment that the ships need to connect to onshore power. “It feels really good that we will also be able to connect cruise ships to onshore power next season. This will be the first facility of its kind in Sweden, and one of only a few in Europe. The cruise passengers are very important to Stockholm financially, and generate over 1,000 jobs in the region," says Thomas Andersson, CEO Ports of Stockholm. The work to equip the two city centre quays with onshore power connections will be completed, respectively, in 2023 and 2024. These cruise quay-berths are two of Ports of Stockholm’s most visited. It is estimated that at least 45 percent of the cruise ship calls will be able to connect to onshore power when the facilities are in place. The total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions will be at least 6,000 tonnes each year as a result of connecting to onshore power. This environmental investment for cruise ships in Stockholm is a top priority and has been awarded grant funding from both the EU and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Leap program. Facts international cruises Stockholm In 2019 just over 656,000 cruise passengers and an additional 240,000 crew members visited Stockholm. Collectively they spent more than EUR 57 million on hotel rooms, food, sightseeing excursions, shopping etc. In addition, the cruise shipping companies spent a total of EUR 25 million on harbour dues, pilotage dues and fairway dues in Stockholm. The cruise industry therefore contributes hugely to the Stockholm region, generating a total economic effect of almost EUR 176 million and creating around 1,100 jobs. Stockholm is a popular cruise destination and the majority of cruise passengers state that they are very satisfied with their visit.

08/08/2022

The port of Riga has welcomed the 10 millionth passenger

The lucky one is Tanja Cassandra Karina Bittner from Weiherhammer, Bavaria, who left for a Baltic Sea cruise from the port of Kiel with her husband Christian and 8-year-old son Paul. The family has arrived at Riga on the morning of Sunday, August 7, on board COSTA FASCINOSA of the Italian cruise company Costa Cruises. Tanja and Christian are active travelers, still this is the first time they both visit Riga. Their interest in the history and unique architecture of the Baltic States inspired them to go on this cruise. Yesterday, the mayor of Riga Mārtiņš Staķis, the Chairman of the Freeport of Riga Board Viesturs Zeps, the FRA CEO Ansis Zeltiņš welcomed the 10 millionth passenger at the port, as well as the group DA GAMBA, who greeted the guests of Riga with a fantastic concert right at the berth. The 10 millionth passenger and her family also had their own special evening program, which was arranged as a surprise gift by the Freeport of Riga Authority. “All evening I felt like in a fairy tale! We will definitely come back to Riga again,” said Tanja after the festive dinner at the historical House of the Blackheads. The family really liked Riga - during the sightseeing tour they visited the Old Riga, the Central market and enjoyed the local cuisine. The ships of the Italian cruise company Costa Cruises entered Riga for the first time in 2005, since then 8 different COSTA cruise ships have called our port 52 times, providing an opportunity to visit Riga for almost 145 thousand passengers. “It is always a great pleasure to be in the beautiful Riga and an honor to witness this important milestone for Riga Port. This city is very well appreciated destination and part of the reason why our Guests, especially German, choose their Costa cruise in the North Europe. We are extremely happy that the 10th million passenger at Riga Port is travelling with us on the Costa Fascinosa. Congratulations to Riga Port for this incredible achievement and we are looking forward to being back again in the Latvian capital” stated Captain Mario Moretta, Captain of the Costa Fascinosa. It is expected that more around 80 000 foreign tourists will come to Riga on cruise ships this season. For 7 months, 63 cruise ship calls have already been registered in the port of Riga, carrying 42,880 passengers to Riga, most of them from Germany (18.4 thousand) and the USA (9.7 thousand), as well as from Great Britain, Sweden and Canada. Since 2000, about 8,200 passenger ship calls have been registered in the port of Riga, the majority of them - about 6,600 - were the regular passenger liners’ calls, while 1,600 of them were cruise ships’ calls. Approximately 88% (~8.8 million) of all guests arriving by sea were ferry passengers, while 12% (~1.2 million) were cruise passengers from a total of more than 124 countries. During these years, more than 200 different cruise ships have visited Riga. The leader in terms of registered calls is the cruise ship VIKING CINDERELLA, which called the port 73 times between 2004 and 2013, with a total of 120 thousand passengers visiting Riga. A record number of cruise ship calls - more than 100 - is expected in the port of Riga during 2022 cruise season, which will exceed the results of the last completed 2019 cruise season by a quarter. Of these vessels, 13 ships are visiting us for the first time this season, and around 20 cruise ships have stayed or will stay in Riga for more than one day. The last arrivals of cruise ships this season are scheduled for October this year. VOYAGER OF THE SEAS, which visited Riga for the first time this year, was the largest cruise ship in terms of GT or the total capacity of the vessel (138194 GT, 311 m), while the largest ship in terms of length was CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE (319 m), which visited Riga in 2017. COSTA PACIFICA is the leader in terms of the number of passengers carried at one time with 3523 passengers on board; the ship has called the port of Riga 37 times since 2011, carrying 115.7 thousand passengers.

27/07/2022

DISNEY CRUISE LINE FIRST OPERATION AT THE PORTO CRUISE TERMINAL | DISNEY MAGIC MAIDEN CALL AT THE PORT OF LEIXÕES ON JULY 26

On July 26, the Porto Cruise Terminal welcomed the maiden call of DISNEY MAGIG cruise ship, which was also the first operation of Disney Cruise Line at the Port of Leixões. DISNEY MAGIG was on her 7 days voyage from Barcelona to Dover also visiting Cartagena, Leixões, Coruña and Bilbao, arriving at the Porto Cruise Terminal early in the morning with 1.260 passengers on board, mostly Americans and leaving the port in the late afternoon. In one of the most spectacular ship arrivals in Leixões’ long cruise activity history, two Port Authority water cannon tugs formed a guard of honour and escort DISNEY MAGIG to the Porto Cruise Terminal pier. Passengers and crew were welcomed at the terminal with Portuguese traditional dances and performances and other animations for the youngest as well as some offers marking this first call of the ship to the port. During the afternoon, a Port Wine Tasting was served as passengers returned to the terminal from their visits to Porto, Douro and North of Portugal Region. To commemorate the inaugural visit of the DISNEY MAGIG to Leixões, a Plaque Exchange Ceremony was held on board with Port Authorities and ship’s Captain and his staff. Doubtless a Magical Day for the Port of Leixões. DISNEY MAGIG is the first cruise ship owned and operated by Disney Cruise Line, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. She was built at the Fincantieri shipyards (Italy) and launched in 1998. This amazing 294 meters’ cruise ship has a maximum capacity for around 2.700 passengers and almost 1.000 crew members. As with other Disney cruise ships, the ship's horn blast plays a snippet of '"When You Wish upon a Star". DISNEY MAGIG’s Godmother is Patricia Disney, former wife of Walt Disney's nephew, Roy E. Disney. The ship has 20 bright yellow lifeboats which, along with the black, red, and white colors of the ship itself, match the colors of Mickey Mouse. See you soon Disney Magic!