News Archive

14/03/2024

Nordfjordeid upgrades and electrifies

A second tender dock is now under construction in Nordfjordeid, which will facilitate more effective handling of the larger ships at anchor, according to Jacob Bredesen, marketing manager Port of Nordfjordeid. In addition the entire dock - from the SeaWalk to the road and surrounding the terminal building - is being resurfaced to ensure a good experience for the passengers. In addition the terminal building is being upgraded with a new exterior, together with new signage and information on attractions. The port is also “planning a fully-fixed concrete berth for cruiseships, which will replace the SeaWalk, and be able to accept the largest cruiseships in the fleet,” Bredesen adds. “This will enable much more effective operation, and make the docking process and crew requirements much simpler. This will also make it a lot easier for us to implement shore power.” Within the terminal complex, six charging stations have been introduced for electric cars, with the plan being to add these for buses and trucks also. “This will enable the ship agents and others in the supply chain to move to electric vehicles,” says Bredesen, who adds that electric RIBs are being tested in Geiranger this season, and will be implemented in Nordfjordeid, once shore power is in place. Luxury yacht Riva Italia, built in 1961, is also going to be converted to be fully electric, thanks to government funding. In addition the Viking ships, Ask and Birk, will have electric support motors fitted. The port continues to operate its small electric bus for town tours and now awaits the technology to enable fully electric tour buses.

14/03/2024

HaminaKotka puts itself squarely on the north Baltic map

The market dynamics related to international cruise traffic is currently undergoing significant change within the Baltic Sea. Alternative destinations are now taking the place of St Petersburg and a very good development is taking place in 2024, according to Petra Cranston, project manager cruise business Port of HaminaKotka (PoH). The port, together with other Finnish cruise ports and cruise-related stakeholders, is taking action towards strengthening the position of the northern Baltic Sea cruise market areas. The actors have built up a Cruise Finland marketing collaboration network, with goals to achieve growth in awareness and to point out the strengths and drivers of Finland as a cruise destination. A workshop related to this network was held in Kotka in mid February. According to Cranston, the timing was considered appropriate because: *The geopolitical situation and the overall increased cost level have changed the market dynamics in the Baltic Sea *Finland has been left off international cruise itinerary plans which could be better addressed by joined forces *As a general travel trend it is seen that there is a significant growth of interest towards northern countries, for example due to the very hot summers in the Mediterranean areas With this in mind, in late February the port hosted the first stop on a fam trip organised by Cruise Baltic. As well as being hosted at a local restaurant, the cruiseline executives were taken out to see nature on the frozen sea and to the town of Hamina. In Kotka, the diverse history of the city and its urban nature in winter were introduced. A tour of the archipelago of the eastern Gulf of Finland through sea ice was a highlight, as was a home visit to the Creutz family of Malmgard Manor. “We had a great opportunity to show the cruiselines the same attractions their guests are interested in. During a very short time we were able to offer the main teasers of venues and tastes of the pearls of our destination, and hope that this experience will lead to new cruise calls in our port,” concludes Cranston.

19/02/2024

AIDASOL HERALDS START OF 2024 CRUISE SEASON

Portland Port welcomed its first cruise ship of 2024 when the AIDAsol arrived with more than 2,000 passengers today. (MON FEBRUARY 19, 2024) The call marked the start of an 11-month long season with 47 vessel visits and 110,000 passengers due in South Dorset from February to December. Guests from the ship, which is operated by AIDA Cruises for mostly German speaking tourists, travelled into Weymouth and the local area during the eight-hour stop over. Cruise calls are estimated to contribute £10m to the local economy annually with most calls booked two years in advance. Ian McQuade said: “It was wonderful to see our first cruise ship of 2024 arrive. “The cruise market continues to grow in the UK and globally. A great deal of hard work constantly goes into winning valuable cruise business for Portland in the face of tough competition across the UK and Europe. “The vast majority of cruise calls this year were booked two years ago in 2022 and we are already well advanced in planning our itinerary for 2025 and 2026. “As well as raising the profile of the area and contributing to the local economy, cruise ship visits extend the tourist season beyond the summer peak. “We’re grateful for the warm welcome and support provided by local residents, businesses, tourist attractions and organisations who see the benefit of cruise visits for the area. “We’re looking forward to another superb year sharing the delights of our area with tourists from all over the world whilst supporting the growth of the local economy.” A total of 2,194 passengers plus more than 600 crew arrived on the AIDAsol when she pulled alongside the port’s new £26m deepwater berth this morning. She visited Portland as the penultimate stop of a 117-day world tour, which ends in Hamburg on February 21. It was her inaugural visit to Portland, the first of five calls at the port this year. There are cruise calls in 10 out of 12 months this year at Portland – all months except January and March. Vessels due at Portland include the Disney Dream in September, the Caribbean Princess in May, TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 3 in June, Oceania Nautica in August and, Holland America’s Rotterdam in October before the final call of the season on December 10 by the AIDAmar. Portland Port is also to welcome two first time French visitors, Ponant vessel Le Champlain and CFC’s Renaissance. CFC is a new French cruise line that started operations last year and is planning to make three calls at Portland in 2024. There are a total of nine inaugural calls this year. As well as AIDAsol, Le Champlain and Renaissance, they are Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess and Caribbean Princess, Norwegian Cruises Lines’ Norwegian Pearl, Regent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Mariner, Seabourn’s Seabourn Sojurn and Oceania Cruises’ Sirena. The Sun Princess is not only making her inaugural visit to Portland, she is also a brand new ship in her inaugural season. Portland Port supplies a complimentary shuttle service for cruise passengers to visit Weymouth, which remains under constant review to ensure it operates in the best way possible. The port has contracted a professional traffic management company for all calls, which includes the provision of traffic marshals, and has worked with bus operators to stagger the arrival of vehicles and limit the number on the road at any one time. The port’s £10m contribution to the local economy is based on industry figures and includes spending by day excursion visitors to shops, bars, cafes and takeaways, along with expenditure on numerous local tourism attractions, tours of the UNESCO world heritage sites of the Jurassic Coast, Stonehenge and Bath, taxis and coaches. Latest figures by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) trade body estimate that cruise passenger numbers will reach 36 million in 2024 - well up on 31.5m in 2023. They are expected to rise to 37.2m in 2025, 38.5m in 2026 and 39.5m in 2027. According to CLIA, 63% of cruise visitors revisit a destination they first visited on a cruise call – offering the potential for long term benefits for Weymouth and Portland as well as on the day of a cruise call itself. Portland Port has invested heavily in its infrastructure over several years, the largest investment being £26m on its deep-water-berth, to increase capacity and capability. This has allowed the port to welcome larger vessels, including ships up to 350m in length on opposite berths on the same day. The Portland Port estate provides employment for circa 300 people in non-seasonal work. The port itself directly employs 57 in this total. About half of the people employed live on Portland and the rest in Weymouth, or very close by. There are also indirect employees - such as at hauliers and suppliers - as a consequence of direct employment.

15/02/2024

Zeebrugge moves into full throttle on cruise

With a post-pandemic increase in call numbers, passengers (169/475,000 in 2023) and the size of ships (over 330m loa and 180,000gt), plus a merger with Antwerp, the newly-named Port of Antwerp-Bruges (PoAB) is gearing up to meet these new requirements. Piet Vandenkerkhove, cruises account manager Port of Antwerp-Bruges, comments: “This put stress on our infrastructure and we decided to invest in improvement. The merger with Antwerp also signified an injection of expert knowledge and available funding.” Hence the old roll fenders at the Swedish Quay are being replaced with seven Yokohama fenders at the first berth with the second due to follow after an evaluation of the Yokohama configuration in the third quarter of this year. “The new fendering will allow safer mooring, it is required for the cable management system of OPS and could create better opportunities for value added activities, such as luggage handling, waste reception, stores etc,” explains Vandenkerkhove. In addition four new bollards of 200t plus will be installed at the end of this year to avoid shared bollards and crossed mooring lines when two ships berth simultaneously. When it comes to onshore power (OPS), this is out for tender with the first 16MVA connection due to be operational by January 2026. The second connection will be available during 2028, following the construction of a 150 kV station to strengthen the grid. This year ESI-at-berth [Enviromental Ship Index] is being introduced. Initially all ships reporting within 72 hours of departing will receive a flat-rate price incentive, regardless of the ESI score. “This module is still in the pilot phase. We will evaluate this before introducing an incentive structure,” says Vandenkerkhove. In November 2023, a zero-emission electric shuttle bus to transport passengers between the ship’s gangway and the terminal building was introduced to reduce the port’s greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint. The infrastructure improvements come alongside an increase in staff. Chana van Cotthem has joined the cruise team as manager cruise operations. Her task, within the nautical operations team, is to improve efficiency of all operations on the cruise terminal and to cater for the nautical chain for all cruiseships that visit the Antwerp cruise platform, a separate entity operated by the City Port of Antwerp. Van Cotthem will be assisted by Els De Brouckere, a dedicated cruise operations coordinator. Dries De Smet is heading the OPS team as advisor sustainable energy.
 To extend its reach, the PoAB recently joined CLIA. “The main aim is to reach a MoU [Memorandum of Understanding] between the cruiselines, the port and the main destination of Bruges on a sustainable future proof management of cruise tourism,” explains Vandenkerkhove. The port already limits itself to a maximum of two ships a day with cruise being quite evenly spread throughout the year, in part due to the weekly winter calls of AIDA and MSC Cruises and because of its location vis the main homeports of Southampton and Hamburg. “The busiest cruise days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, thus avoiding the sometimes-crowded weekend days in Bruges,” he says.   “We are also working on a new booking policy - away from the current first-come first-served approach - in order to reach an even better spread of cruise calls/passengers while, at the same time, prioritising greener ships through incentives.” Last but by no means least PoAB is in the course of rethinking its cruise operations on its Zeebrugge platform. Following the end of the Swedish Quay concession agreement with C.RO Ports (CLdN-group), the port authority now has full authority over that entire terminal area. “We are therefore conducting a feasibility study into a possible construction of a new dedicated terminal building, transport staging area and elevated walkway/concourse and boarding bridges, to make operations more efficient and cost-effective,” concludes Vandenkerkhove. It may be early days but it is clear that cruise has moved into a new and higher gear for Zeebrugge.

15/02/2024

Bergen shares its path to shore power

In 2018, Bergen had its biggest cruise year with around 600,000 passengers spread over 336 calls, but behind the facade there were concerns both regarding the number of tourists and, at the same time, the emissions that cruiseships were contributing to the city centre. “After that season, there were political discussions about what measures the city could take to better control the growing cruise tourism,” explains Nils Mollerup, commercial manager Port of Bergen. The result was a decision taken in the city parliament to implement limitations on the number of ships and passengers per day, but also a commitment to install onshore power supply (OPS) for cruiseships. A few years earlier, the port had carried out a major investment and venture for OPS with regard to offshore-related ships, and was therefore already in the driver's seat regarding the establishment of shore power facilities.   The Port of Bergen had already started work on a tool that would measure emissions in the harbour in the form of the Environmental Port Index (EPI), “a tool that would prove to be absolutely crucial in order to implement the changes that were to come” says Mollerup. In the winter of 2019, the cruise industry was informed about Bergen's major changes. “After many discussions between the cruiselines, the Bergen Municipality and the port, the operators came to an understanding that if Bergen was to be a cruise destination of the future, the measures that were being put in place had to be adhered to,” he explains. These were a maximum of three ships/8,000 passengers a day; the implementation of EPI; the implementation of an incentive scheme based on the EPI score; opening of future bookings 30 months before the season; clear and stronger criteria for entering a booking year by year, for example Tier I, Tier II, OPS etc; and construction of shore power for cruiseships. As far as the port was concerned, there was a clear understanding that “when demands are placed on the users of the port, it must also be made possible for the users to achieve their goals”. In other words, for the ships to be able to dock emission-free at the quay in Bergen, a large OPS facility had to be available so that eventually all ships could be connected to this facility at the same time. Bergen is fortunate that there is a lot of green electricity available close to the harbour and hence any OPS facility. “The construction of such a facility was new for many companies, and it took time before the work was fully underway,” explains Mollerup. Had it not been for the pandemic, the facility would have been ready for start-up in spring 2021, but as it was it came online with five connections points, three of which could be used simultaneously, in 2022 as the cruise business started to resume operations. By 2023 a well-established OPS was in place. “Around 25% of the world's cruise fleet visited Bergen in 2023 [341 calls/630,000 passengers], and 25% of the calls were connected to shore power,” says Mollerup. The same number of calls are expected in 2024 with half expected to connect to the OPS. For cruise companies booking calls in 2026, there is a requirement that the ship must be able to connect to shore power.   “Throughout these years, there has been much learning and many discussions with the entire industry. Now we see passengers demanding sustainable solutions and having a ship that is environmentally modern and calls at a zero-emission port has become a competitive advantage. The discussions surrounding the impact of cruises on the local community have been significantly reduced, and Bergen Municipality is satisfied with having achieved a good balance between residents and industry. A good city to live in is a good city to visit,” concludes Mollerup.

15/02/2024

CE statistics prove that hard work pays off

The 2023 numbers are in from CE member ports and it’s business as usual, if not better, following the pandemic pause. Total calls numbered 9,111 while passengers numbers reached 18,935,154. When it comes to call numbers, top of the leader board is Southampton (497), followed by Lisbon, Bergen, Alesund, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Akureyri, Reykjavik, Orkney and Stavanger (203). For passenger numbers, Southampton (2.7 million) also takes the number one spot but then it changes somewhat with next up Hamburg, Lisbon, Copenhagen, Alesund, Bergen, Stavanger, OldenLoen, Zeebrugge and Geiranger (471,623). Jens Skrede, managing director CE, says: “These numbers are a testament to the hard work our member ports have put in to get back to business as usual following Covid-19. “They are also a reflection of what is going on in Northern Europe, whereby some ports to the west of the Baltic are gaining, while those to the east are having a harder time of it due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and hence St Petersburg being excluded from Baltic itineraries.”

15/02/2024

Stavanger aims to become number one destination for cruise crew

For many years Stavanger has been offering crew free entrance to its museums. In 2023, for example, about 170 crew visited the Norwegian Petroleum Museum. Last year Visit Region Stavanger (VRS) decided to extend its offering to include, for example, free tickets to all hop-on/off buses and VR experience at the Viking House, as well as 25% discounts to for example, Stavanger Camping mini golf & karaoke, Fjordbuda souvenir shop and Chill Chocolate. It will also be sending information to the cruiseships about just what the crew can do when visiting the Norwegian town. Stavanger’s goal is to be “the best in Norway when it comes to taking care of crew from cruiseships”, says Line Murphy, cruise manager VRS. “Crew who work onboard are great ambassadors for the destination, and they talk to the guests and often recommend what to do when they are in port. “They stay for many months onboard and that means that they visit the same port many times. Often they have time in port to spend for themselves and that’s a great opportunity for the destination to acknowledge them and to offer them stuff to do,” she adds.   Last year, for example, Murphy ‘the Viking Queen’ took crew from Costa Firenze on a two-hour tour of the town and also AIDA Cruises’ crew to play football at a local pitch. In addition the Seaman’s Mission, which offers free coffee/tea and WiFi, received 5,000 crew visits last year. This year, the aim is “to talk to as many HR managers as possible to make sure the information reaches the crew,” says Murphy, who has high hopes that there will be more uptake in 2024 and the years ahead.

15/02/2024

Torshavn joins the EPI

Torshavn has joined the the Environmental Port Index (EPI), following a visit from the two Norwegian EPI ambassadors - Even Husby, ceo EPI, and Jon Olav Stedje, port operations manager Port of Flam - in December. Representatives from a number of Faroese ports, the destination company, government agencies and local politicians were informed of the benefits of using EPI. “Joining the EPI, Port of Torshavn [PoT] embraces a pivotal role in spearheading a sustainable maritime future. This collaboration marks a significant stride towards our commitment to environmental stewardship and operational transparency in the North Atlantic basin,” says Hanus Mikkelsen, port director PoT. “We are eager to leverage the EPI’s insights for a greener, more responsible cruise industry, showcasing Torshavn not just as a prime destination but as a vanguard of eco-conscious port operations." Throughout 2024, the port will actively collect and measure the environmental footprints of visiting cruiseships through the EPI platform. This initiative will enhance knowledge and communication and lay the groundwork for a future reward system to incentivise sustainable practices among cruiseship operators. Husby says: “For the EPI ports group, the Port of Torshavn's entry offers fresh perspectives, benefiting all EPI ports. A joining theme for all of us is the challenges concerning maintaining sustainable development amid growing tourism demands. “Other benefits of a more extensive EPI network include enhanced data quality, strengthened advocacy and transparency. As a group of over 30 destinations around the North Atlantic, we are dedicated to shaping a sustainable future for maritime tourism.” Torshavn in the Faroe Islands is a popular North Atlantic summer call for cruiseships. With its key location, north-west of Scotland and more or less midway between Norway and Iceland, Torshavn is an interesting and welcoming destination. This year 58 calls and 33,000 passengers are scheduled to visit, compared to 48 and 27,884 respectively in 2023. The Environmental Port Index (EPI) is a reporting tool developed in collaboration with DNV and numerous shipping industry experts. The aim is to increase the operational efficiency of both ship owners and port operators, while reducing their impact on the environment. The EPI is an international solution, backed by global maritime experts and a robust IT infrastructure capable of supporting ports around the world.

15/02/2024

World Heritage Fjords update

On December 13, the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) gave their advice for Zero Emission Regulations in the World Heritage Area (WHA) from 2026. “It recommended a transitional period - until December 31 2035 - accepting cruiseships which have bunkered qualified fuels, for example biofuels, in compliance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive,” explains Tor Mikkel Tokvam, port director, Port of Flam. “The bunkered amount of qualified fuels must correspond to the amount used in the WHA. The NMA’s recommendation is in line with consultation statements from the cruise industry and its stakeholders.   “The recommendation is delivered to the Department of Climate and Environment, which is expected to make their decision shortly as 2026 is approaching.”

12/02/2024

Enhancing the Nordfjord Experience: A Voyage into Viking Heritage

Nordfjordeid, nestled amidst Norway’s breathtaking fjords, beckons you to explore a realm where history, nature, and maritime elegance converge. As we unveil our latest developments, let the winds of adventure carry you through this captivating voyage. Viking Longships Set Sail Nordfjordeid, renowned for its quality offerings in the cruise industry, now unveils an exciting chapter in its maritime saga: Viking Longships: This summer, the Viking longships Ask and Birk will become integral to our port experience. Crafted by the skilled boatbuilders of Bjørkedalen whom also crafted the famous Myklebust ship, these vessels echo the historic legacy of the Vikings. Guests can book rowing excursions between the port and the Sagastad Viking Center throughout the day. Imagine the rhythmic pull of oars, the fjord’s mirror-like surface reflecting ancient mountains, and the whispers of sagas carried by the wind. Sagastad Triumphs: Purpose-built for cruise visitors, Sagastad has achieved remarkable success. It remains open whenever a ship docks at Nordfjordeid. Now, with the addition of the Ask and Birk, we offer an unparalleled fjord experience. Explore the center’s exhibits, where Viking history come alive, and immerse yourself in the sagas that shaped this land. The launch of a giant: The anticipation is building as the last week of April approaches—the time when the grand launch of the Myklebust ship will grace the fjord; for the first time since 2019. Sagastad, known for its rich Viking heritage, is pulling out all the stops for this momentous occasion. Prepare for an event that promises to be packed with excitement, cultural significance, and maritime marvels. Ask and Birk will of course be joining the event. The Viking Dimension: Our new longships accommodate up to 12 guests each, along with a crew of 2. Picture the sun-kissed fjord, the scent of saltwater, and the creaking of wooden planks as you row—a journey that transcends time. These longships connect us to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, where the echoes of Viking chants still resonate. Anticipating a Thriving Season: We eagerly await the inaugural season with this exciting offering. We believe it will captivate tourists from diverse backgrounds, leaving them with lasting memories of Nordfjordeid’s Viking legacy. The fjord awaits, ready to reveal its secrets. Riva Italia—A Regal Voyage As we navigate the fjord’s depths, we introduce the 135-foot ex-royal yacht, Riva Italia: A Regal Legacy: Originally commissioned for the Prince of Brunei in 1961, Riva Italia exudes elegance and history. Its timeless design and luxurious amenities make it an ideal vessel for exploring the enchanting Nordfjord region. Imagine sipping champagne on the deck, the sun casting golden hues on the water, and the distant peaks standing guard. Tailored Experiences: Riva Italia can comfortably accommodate up to 99 guests, offering versatile configurations for various occasions: Dinner Parties: Host an unforgettable evening against the backdrop of majestic fjords. Candlelight dances on crystal glasses, and laughter mingles with the fjord breeze. Conferences: Conduct business meetings or workshops in a unique maritime setting. Imagine brainstorming ideas while surrounded by nature’s grandeur. Bar and Lounge: Enjoy onboard refreshments and unwind in style. The ship’s bar becomes a hub of camaraderie, where stories flow as freely as the fjord waters. Towards Sustainability: Plans are underway to convert Riva Italia to electric propulsion, ensuring a greener and quieter fjord experience. Imagine gliding through pristine waters, leaving only ripples behind. Our vision extends beyond individual vessels. Early planning is underway for a multitude of projects, including a potential Viking village, where visitors can immerse themselves in Norse heritage and culture. Picture thatched roofs, blacksmiths shaping iron, and storytellers weaving sagas by firelight. Stay tuned for updates on this and other exciting projects. Our green spaces are more than mere patches of grass—they are gateways to nature’s wonders. The municipality has intensified efforts to develop and maintain these parks, ensuring they remain inviting oases for visitors. Clean, accessible facilities are essential for a seamless experience. The municipality’s dedication to maintaining public toilets reflects commitment to hospitality. We’re plugging into the future. By electrifying our land-based transport, we reduce emissions and create a quieter, cleaner environment for all. Our port facilities are also evolving, we’re investing in upgrades that elevate the visitor experience. As we set sail on this transformative journey, Nordfjordeid awaits, ready to weave unforgettable memories for your guests. Join us in celebrating the fusion of history, nature, and maritime elegance—the heart of the Nordfjord experience.

07/02/2024

2023 was the destination's busiest year for cruise activity at the Porto Cruise Terminal

In 2023, the Porto Cruise Terminal (Port of Leixões) welcomed 116 cruise calls, 14 by ships new to the port, which brought 148.889 passengers to Porto & North of Portugal Region making it the destination's busiest year ever. The port also hosted 4 turnaround calls. These numbers represent a 37% growth in the number of passengers over the previous year and a 27% growth compared to 2018, which had been the best year ever until now. The majority of passengers visiting the Porto Cruise Terminal and the region in 2023 were from the UK (44,1%), USA (23.2%), Germany (17.9%), Canada (5%) and Australia (1.6%). The size of ships visiting the port is also increasing. GT numbers reached 6.9 million, 12% more over the previous year. The average ship length was 224 mtr compared to the 219 mtr recorded last year. Cruise activity on the Atlantic Coast continues to be marked by some seasonality. The busiest months for activity at the port were May (27,373 passengers), September (24,932 passengers) and October (29,219 passengers). October was once again the best month of the year and, in this case, the best month ever as far as passengers are concerned. In this way, 2023 was the best ever for cruise activity at Porto Cruise Terminal and we are very proud to continue to be an increasingly preferred choice for cruise companies and cruisers from all over the world by growing in a sustained manner with great impact on tourism in the Porto & North Region of Portugal.

24/01/2024

2024 Newsletter from Port of Vágur

Exciting News: Port of Vágur Launches Its 2024 Newsletter. Read Port of Vágur's first online newsletter. Dive into an overview of activities throughout 2023, complemented by a key decision made in 2022 that paved the way for these impactful endeavors. Discover the green energy initiatives that have positively shaped our operations. The newsletter introduces the Port's new harbour master and gives insights to 2024 and 2025. The newsletter can be read here: https://www.calameo.com/read/0066379023f3993c87f61

02/01/2024

Reykjavik is the first port outside Norway to join the EPI

In 2023 Faxaports/Port of Reykjavik became the first port outside Norway to join the Environmental Port Index (EPI). Since then several Icelandic and North Atlantic ports have joined, bringing the total number of member ports to 29. Sigurdur Jokull Olafsson, marketing manager Faxaports/Port of Reykjavik, says: “Faxaports have become a key turnaround TEN-T port in the North Atlantic and as such we have an obligation from 2030 regarding onshore power, where the EPI will be an important link towards our goals and commitments. “To implement the same system as in Norway was incredibly important. With an EPI average of 41.1% compared to Norway at 45.7%, we are almost on the same page. In addition it will give us more certified data on environmental impacts, which will help demonstrate to the general public here that we are taking environmental matters very seriously. “As the EPI representative in Iceland, it was important to bring other ports onto the same page. Akureyri and Seydisfjordur implemented EPI last year and Isafjordur will be on board in January.” From the beginning of 2023, over 2,500 reports (port stays) have been made and a huge amount of data has been collected. Almost 200 cruise vessels are now registered in the system and the average score has gone from 40 to 45, where 100 is the best possible score. Last year marked an increase in cruise traffic in EPI-affiliated ports by 23%. Based on data collected from the ports, the trend shows that 2023 saw a significant increase of cleaner fuels. In 2022, around 5% of the fuel used was LNG, but for 2023 this has increased to 20%. Due to exhaust cleaning technologies NOx emissions per port stay has been reduced by 24% and SOx emissions per port stay reduced by 47%, compared to a baseline of expected emissions. Since the first operational year in 2019, the average EPI score has increased by 15 percentage points, from 30% to 45%. “The average EPI score continues in an upwards trend from start-up. This shows that the ship operators make an effort to accommodate the EPI mission,” commented Elisabeth Draegeboe, senior consultant & business development leader, DNV.   Future development plans include a new and updated web site for 2024. Even Husby, ceo EPI, comments: “This will be a unique opportunity for our member ports to showcase their work regarding sustainable development. The EPI portal will become a platform for more information regarding each individual port stay, period of time and detailed emission data. We want to develop EPI to be the preferred tool for the ports’ own environmental reporting and include more ports in the portfolio.”

02/01/2024

New member: Orkney

Orkney is an archipelago in the Northern Isles of Scotland, situated off the north coast of Great Britain. It has about 70 islands, 20 of which are inhabited. The largest settlement and also the administrative centre is Kirkwall. Orkney has a major extension planned for the main cruise berth at Hatston Pier in Kirkwall that will take the full length to 685m at 10m water depth. The new berth is planned to have facilities to provide fuelling - including future fuels - at the berth and also incorporate shore power infrastructure. “There are potential plans for a new cruise reception terminal to make this one of the best berths in Scotland,” adds Lenore Macdonald, cruise operations and marketing co-ordinator OIC Marine Services & Transportation. In 2023 Orkney Harbours introduced a new booking policy for cruiseships at Hatston Pier and the adjacent Kirkwall Bay Anchorage to act as a clear set of guidelines to the size of vessels that will be handled at these locations. At present the quays and anchorages available are: Kirkwall Hatston with a length of 345m and depth of 10m and Kirkwall Ro-Ro (157m length and 8.5m depth), both of which have a free shuttle bus service running on a continuous rotation to Kirkwall centre, which is about 4km away. Kirkwall North (124m length and 5.4m depth) which is within walking distance of Kirkwall centre and Stromness North (148m/5.4m) which is an easy walk to the centre of Stromness. Lyness Wharf (123m/9m) and Lyness Golden Wharf (190m/5m) are also available. In addition Kirkwall Anchorage is 0.5nm and Stromness Anchorage 1nm from the relevant tender quays. There are also anchorages available at some of the Isles. Orkney call and passenger numbers have been steadily increasing with 2019 seeing 158 calls and 132,388 passengers, this year 205/205,543 and 2024 showing 255 calls currently booked bringing an estimated 250,000 passengers. First time callers next year include Le Lyrial, Renaissance, Jewel of the Seas, Ocean Albatros, Queen Anne, Nieuw Statendam, Scenic Eclipse, Azamara Onward, Celebrity Apex, Seabourn Sojourn and Mein Schiff 7. At 59 degrees north, and embracing British, Scottish, Orcadian and Viking Heritage and Culture, The Orkney Islands offer a variety of of different shore excursions. With 5000 years of history, relics of two World Wars, Britain's most northerly cathedral, castles, distilleries and the UNESCO Word Heritage Site of Neolithic settlement Skara Brae, abundant wildlife and much more, the choices are endless.

02/01/2024

CMP sets new record for cruise calls during winter season as OPS gathers pace

Copenhagen Malmo Port (CMP) expects record numbers of about 50,000 passengers and 18 calls to Copenhagen and Visby during the typically off-season months of November 2023 through January 2024. For Copenhagen it is a chance for visitors to experience the Danish capital in new ways and for visitors to the medieval Unesco world heritage city of Visby to experience the Swedish island of Gotland during Winter. For local businesses and cultural institutions, it is an opportunity to experience visitors in what is normally a slower season for tourism.

 The targeted work of all actors has paid off and more and more cruiselines are choosing to call at this time of year whether as one-off cruises or as winter deployments, for example AIDAnova calling Copenhagen seven times and Hapag Lloyd’s Hanseatic Nature making five calls to Copenhagen and Visby. “These numbers highlight the great interest and commitment from the German market to the region,” comments Luis de Carvalho, commercial cruise director CMP.

 Furthermore, a high number of cruiseships called CMP around the festive turn of the year 2023/2024: seven Christmas calls in Copenhagen and two in Visby, as well as two cruiseships spending New Year’s Eve in Copenhagen. 

“CMP is working with all destination stakeholders, cruiselines, CruiseCopenhagen, Cruise Baltic, Cruise Europe and other ports in the region to create products and offers that reflect the different times of the year. Our goal is to continue to expand the season into the autumn, winter, and spring months to complement the already successful summer season and create an ‘all year around’ season. This is a work in progress, but we see great interest from cruiselines which gives us the motivation to continue our work,” says de Carvalho.

 This year CMP expects to receive cruiseships in Copenhagen on all 12 months of the year for the first time ever, proving that Copenhagen is indeed a year-round destination. In 2023, CMP hosted 389 calls and 940,000 passengers in Malmo, Visby and Copenhagen.

When it comes to environmental credentials, CMP has the aspiration to become one of the world’s most sustainable ports and is under way to become CO2 neutral in its own operations by 2025. Between 2020 and 2022 CMP has reduced CO2 emissions in own operations (GHG Scope 1+2) with 57%. This is equivalent to a reduction of 1.231 tonnes CO2e. Onshore power supply (OPS) is expected to be ready in 2025, with connection points at CMP’s Langelinie and Oceankaj terminals and to be at full capacity in 2028. In this respect, Copenhagen City and Port Development Agency (By & Havn), who are developing the cruise OPS facilities in Copenhagen that are to be operated by CMP, announced on November 29 2023 that they were ready to enter into an agreement with the contractor PowerCon. The cruise OPS is co-funded by the EU.

02/01/2024

Hardangerfjord showcases its attractions

Cruise Destination Hardangerfjord, together with colleagues from hotels, tour operators, Visit Eidfjord and Ulvik, hosted travel agents and media in London before Christmas. A morning of presentations was enough to convince anyone listening that this is a place well worth visiting, whether by land or sea. There is a wide variety of attractions on offer, ranging from a cider safari amongst the apple blossom, to a hike to Trolltunga rock to visiting the Norwegian Nature Center Hardanger. Inge Tangeras, ceo Visit Eidfjord, explained that there had been 90 calls and 170,000 passengers, 25% from the UK, to the two ports within Hardangerfjord (Eidfjord and Ulvik) during 2023. With regards to sustainability and with Fit for 55 on the radar for 2030, Tangeras is in no doubt that onshore power supply (OPS) is a must to be in the cruise business. In this respect plans for OPS have been submitted to Enova for the installation and operation at an investment of about NKr100 million (€8.8 million). This will result in one 16mW connection at the pier to be operational in early 2026. An added bonus of this system is that it would also be used to power trucks and buses in the vicinity, hence cutting emissions further. “A condition of the support from Enova is that we have to have letters of intent from the cruiselines committing to plug in,” explains Tangeras. Meanwhile in Ulvik where tenders come in to just in front of Brakanes Hotel, family owners Fjordtind Hotels are working on ensuring more passengers stop and enjoy the recently-upgraded hotel and local facilities, as well as taking tours further afield. Hardangerfjord is 90 minutes drive from Bergen airport with direct flights to/from London and regional UK airports, such as Aberdeen, Newcastle, Birmingham and Leeds.

02/01/2024

Mo i Rana increases quay depth to enable larger cruiseships to call

Mo i Rana is working with the Norwegian government on a plan to dredge 300m-long Toraneskaia, which will increase the depth from 6.5m to about 9.5m/10m at at cost of NKr 114 million (€10.1 million). Oystein Lorentzen, financial manager Mo i Rana Havn, says: “There has been a lot of pollution from the old coke plant in Rana. Hence the dredging project is an environmental dredging and will be paid for by the state.” Mo i Rana is only one hour’s bus ride to the Arctic Circle and has plenty to offer passengers ranging from limestone caves to the Nordland railway line to 19th century wooden houses and the 11m high Man from the Sea sculpture and Science Centre.   In 2023 there were two calls bringing 1,100 passengers with one called (604 passengers) expected in 2024. “After the dredging is completed we hope to have two to four ships a year,” says Lorentzen but a limit of 1,000 to 2,000 passenger per day has been put in place. 

02/01/2024

CE introduces regular webinars as an added member benefit

In 2023 Cruise Europe (CE) introduced a series of webinars to keep its members informed of industry issues and regulations. CE also hosted an internal webinar about social media performance. Participation has been high as topics such as onshore power supply and EES (Entry – Exit – System) and ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) have been discussed. Presentations have been given by industry experts, including those from Cruise Lines International Association, Powercon and TUI Cruises. For 2024, more webinars are planned and details will be announced in due course.

22/12/2023

£1bn generated for the City of Southampton

The cruise sector has made a record contribution to the local economy in 2023. More than 460 cruise vessel calls and 2.6 million passengers visiting Southampton have generated more than £1 billion for the local and regional economy. The sector supports over 15,000 jobs with a wide range of local businesses benefitting– from those closely aligned to the sector, in hospitality, stevedore operations and fuel bunkering services to the wider Hampshire visitor economy and other local Southampton businesses. Stephen Manion, Executive Director of Go Southampton, said, "Cruise passengers are a massively important part of Southampton and Hampshire's tourist economy. 'Cruisers' tend to be higher spending visitors than the average and across a wider range of categories. We look forward to working with the Port of Southampton to increase not just the numbers of visitors but their ability to access the City and all that it has to offer." Associated British Ports (ABP) are proud to be the operator of Europe's leading turnaround cruise port with five cruise terminals, including the new Horizon Terminal. The Port of Southampton is home to the UK's first large-scale shore power facility, enabling cruise vessels to achieve zero emissions when in the Port – just one element of ABP's commitment to sustainability. ABP encourages passengers to maximise the use of public transport, and we plan our operations with the City's traffic team to minimise disruption. We work with the City Council and port partners to ensure the air quality levels continue to be below nationally set thresholds, and using the air quality monitors on the Port, we can accurately measure this. Alastair Welch, ABP Regional Director, Southampton, said: "We are proud of the role we play in supporting the local, regional and national economy. While this is a record year for cruise in the City, we continue to invest in this and other port-related sectors to ensure long-term success for our Port City."

30/11/2023

Portsmouth on a rapid path to carbon neutral

On August 20, after 18 months of construction, Portsmouth International Port welcomed passengers from Saga’s Spirit of Discovery as the first to experience an innovative net carbon neutral terminal extension, made possible through £11.25 million (€12.9 million) of Levelling Up funding to transform the city’s visitor economy. Nigel Blanks, CEO of Saga Cruises, said: ““The quality of the building and the attention to detail that has gone into its development really are second to none, and our guests thoroughly enjoyed the new arrival experience.” Cutting-edge environmental engineering has resulted in the port becoming the first in the UK to use sea water to heat and cool the building. Other environmental features include wind and solar technology, and internal and external living walls to help purify the air. All the elements combined means the building will generate more energy than it consumes, eventually moving from net carbon neutral to becoming what’s known as carbon positive. The new terminal has been built to accommodate a growth which is expected to rise to over 100 cruise calls in 2024. The design features a sky garden which is a public viewing space, a walkway between the existing terminal and an exclusive lounge area for passengers. Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, cabinet member responsible for the port at Portsmouth City Council, said: “This new terminal extension is hoped to kick start further investment in the city, from hotel capacity to an increase in tourism spending. The port is integral to Portsmouth and supports our ambitions to become a leading marine and maritime city, providing opportunities for residents and high quality experiences for visitors.” In addition, the port has been awarded £19.8 million from the Zero Emissions Vessels and Infrastructure competition (ZEVI), funded by the UK Government and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. The grant will allow it to embark on a groundbreaking decarbonisation project with Brittany Ferries, alongside the University of Portsmouth, MSE International, B4T, IOTICS and Swanbarton. The SEA CHANGE project will design, build and operate a shore power system across the three busiest berths, using green electricity to run the onboard systems of visiting cruiseships and ferries. Providing shore power will reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality around the port. It is estimated that the system will save over 20,000 tonnes of CO2e per annum from 2027. This is the equivalent to the annual carbon footprint of around 2,500 UK households (source) or making 11,111 round trips by plane from London to New York (source). Barrett commented: “I’m excited that the port can now forge ahead with this game-changing initiative that will slash carbon emissions and bring real benefits to local communities in Portsmouth. This project reaffirms the city’s commitment to reach net carbon neutral by 2030.” Stephen Watkyns, technical director Portsmouth International Port, added: “Once delivered, this revolutionary multi-user, multi-berth shore power facility will be a UK first. It means we’ll be able to provide shore power for ships on three of our berths, including providing power for the hybrid Brittany Ferries ships coming in 2025. Following a major berth extension, coupled with the new terminal, the port is now in a position to handle ships up to 315m in length and the associated passenger capacity these vessels carry. On November 13 in London, the port’s hard work was recognised at the Wave Awards (also known as the ‘Oscars of Cruising’) as it was presented with, not one but, two awards: Best environmental innovation and Best port.

30/11/2023

Bilbao gears up for shore power by 2026

The Port of Bilbao has concluded the 2023 season with 80 calls and just under 150,000 passengers this year. The final call was from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ (FOCL) Bolette, which docked on November 16. Overall, 13 ships made maiden calls this year. Whilst the tourists have mainly been transit passengers coming from the UK (41%), North America (27%), and Germany (13%), the port has been successful in supporting turnaround/embarkation cruises for Oceania Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises. “The Port of Bilbao, and its terminal at Getxo, continues to be positioned along the route of the major cruiselines, and this is making a significant contribution to the increase in tourism in the Basque Country and, by extension, to boosting our economy,” said Ricardo Barkala, president Port Authority of Bilbao. “As a result, we continue to support this activity and to promote the development of the economic fabric of Bizkaia and the Basque Country”. “In a sector as competitive as the cruise sector, cruiselines choose Bilbao because of the infrastructure and services it offers, the operability of the terminal, the flexibility and ease with which stopovers can be managed, and the convenience for their passengers,” Barkala added. This was underlined at the beginning of November when FOCL’s Balmoral came to call at Bilbao at extremely short notice and stayed for three days. The port and local tourism authorities were asked to lay on a variety of experiences throughout the stay. Activities included visits to local exhibitions, laying on extra free shuttle buses to visit the Hanging Bridge UNESCO heritage site and Bilbao’s Old Quarter, which received praise from both the captain and Kai Algar, marine & port planning manager FOCL. In 2019, the Port of Bilbao received 50 calls. In 2020, cruises were suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Fourteen calls were made in 2021 and 78 in 2022. The Port Authority has announced the BilbOPS project to deploy shore power technology in several of the port’s docks, including the cruiseship docks. The aim of the initiative is to improve service delivery, and, in turn, contribute to environmental sustainability. The facilities are due to become operational in the beginning of 2026.

30/11/2023

CE’s Jens Skrede co-moderates ICS session in Madrid

In mid November, Cruise Europe (CE) managing director Jens Skrede was delighted to be back on the International Cruise Summit stage in Madrid for the first time since the first event in 2011. He was co-moderator of a session, entitled ‘Tackling the sustainability concerns of ports & destinations’, with secretary general MedCruise Nicky Guerrero. Linden Coppell, vp sustainability and ESG (environmental social governance), MSC Cruises, and Lucienne Damm, head of sustainability TUI Cruises, were on hand to discuss a range of topics from how TEN-T regulations might impact EU ports to the development and availability of future fuels, such as synthetic LNG, ammonia, nuclear and hydrogen, as well as sustainable shore excursions.   Skrede began by setting the scene in the Cruise Europe region where there are around 10 ports in four countries plug-in ready and several more are due to come on stream in 2024/25. “At CE we have also done things like publishing an OPS fact sheet and we have a dedicated website for OPS where the lines can check the status of member ports,” he said.

30/11/2023

Hamburg delivers shore power on two out of three terminals

The Cruise Center Steinwerder in Hamburg is now designated for shore power. Following the recent delivery of the cable management system in early November, the first ship-and-shore-side integration tests were successfully completed. AIDAprima was the first ship to plug in with further tests with AIDA Cruises and MSC Cruises planned.   Simone Maraschi, managing director Cruise Gate Hamburg, underlines the importance of this development: "We have taken the next step in our journey towards zero-emission at berth. Shore power is a crucial component for us to achieve this goal. The ongoing expansion of the shore power infrastructure in the Port of Hamburg underlines our commitment to transforming into a sustainable cruise hub.“   By 2025, Hamburg aims to have shore power infrastructure capable of supplying cruise ships at all permanent cruise terminals, encouraging cruise lines to rely on eco-friendly shore power while at berth. The Steinwerder terminal complements the existing shore power infrastructure in Altona, which was established in 2016. HafenCity is set to commence operations in 2025, which will make Hamburg one of the first European ports that offer environmentally-friendly shore power at all permanent terminals. On 12 November 2023 Hamburg welcomed the one-millionth cruise passenger this year when the MSC Euribia docked in the Hanseatic city. Maraschi emphasised just how important the event was: "Welcoming the one-millionth guest is a very special moment that is not only important to us as the operators of the city’s cruise terminals but to our partners and the city of Hamburg as well. The cruise industry has quickly recovered from the pandemic, and Hamburg has become an attractive all-year-round cruise destination, in particular due to winter cruising.” Dr Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, commented: "One million cruise passengers within one year - this number demonstrates how attractive Hamburg is for international cruises and tourism. The industry is an important pillar for the economy and the attractiveness of our city. Many cultural, sports and leisure activities are made possible by tourism and are equally attractive for both, the local residents of Hamburg, as well as our guests from abroad. The Senate and the cruise lines are committed to more climate and environmental protection." After the 2023 season, which at 280 calls by the end of the year will be the season with the most calls so far, 2024 is currently expected to see 270 calls. Ten cruise ships will be on their maiden voyages to Hamburg (Azamara Onward, COSTA Favolosa, Mein Schiff 7, National Geographic Explorer, Ocean Albatros, Queen Anne, Seabourn Quest, Sirena and Sky Princess), including one from Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream which is scheduled to call for the first time on September 3 2024.

30/11/2023

Santander passenger terminal is now cruise only

On October 26, Cesar Diaz was named the new chairman at the Port of Santander. A couple of weeks later, on November 17, a plaque exchange took place as Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Bolette made her first call, but the last call of the season to the Spanish port. Up until March of this year, Santander’s Passenger Terminal was used for both cruise and ferry but, starting this season, cruise traffic takes priority. This means that passengers are always within a few minutes walk of the city and will no longer have to take shuttle buses. An added bonus is that the terminal was refurbished recently and now has now a cafeteria/shop, a tourist office and exhibition room, as well as more room available inside for passengers and crew. This new arrangement has been made possible due to the inauguration, earlier in the year, of a new terminal specially designed for ferry traffic and with LNG provision alongside. On November 21, Santander Cruise Deluxe began a study into the impact of cruise on the city combined with a roadmap for the future. The town hall, local government and port authority are working together to develop cruise traffic and this study is aimed at setting up short and medium term actions in order to promote the destination, as well as developing and improving the cruise experience in the region and city. At the end of January 2024, the results of the study will be shown during tourism fair Fitur win Madrid. “We do believe our port/city/region has a great potential for cruise to be developed. There are not too many calls, which can be a problem in other areas and there are plenty of possible excursions only 30 to 40 minutes away, for example Santillana del Mar and Cabarceno,” says Sophie Lanos, cruise manager Port of Santander.   Prior to the pandemic Santander recorded it best year yet with 21 calls. Next year there are 23 scheduled. Passenger numbers this year are expected to increase by nearly 20% to 23,817 compared to last year, with 40,000 estimated for 2024.