News Archive
His name is Vagis Jodish and he is the Chief Purser on the Thomson Spirit Our passengers are 99% British and the average age is 60. This is a 13 night cruise that starts in Newcastle and sails to the Faroes, then Reykjavik with an overnight stop, and then continues from there to Isafjördur, Akureyri and then to Flaam, Olden and Bergen in Norway, and from there back to the UK.
This is a very special cruise that isn't done so often.We have many repeaters and we want to be able to offer to them something special and the cruise is very much appreciated by our guests. I've been working on cruise ships for 16 years now and my first ship was the Romantica. I'm currently working for Louis Cruise Lines who operate this ship for Thomson Cruises. I was born in southern Cyprus, but my mother was English. Most of the officers on the Thomson Spirit are Greek, but members of the crew are of mixed nationalities.
One of the highlights of this cruise is the overnight stop in Reykjavik. Reykjavik offers a broad range of excursions and it is also the capital of Iceland so the passengers appreciate the stopover and book the excursions. We should also not forget the crew, who very much welcome a stopover night in a port because it gives them a little break from the onboard routine. The crew always appreciates it when the local authorities show some interest in catering for their needs and that doesn't only apply to our ship but to the fleet as a whole. For example, a free shuttle bus, even after hours, is welcomed by the crew members, although this mostly applies to situations where the port is far from the town centre. Occasionally the crew gets an opportunity to play football with a local team and two years ago we had a very strong team on the Thomson Spirit and participated in the Nordic Cup.
A total of 12 visits have been reserved for the new Melkki cruise ship dock this summer. Besthalli L19, which contains sanitary facilities for the passengers, was moved to the dock from the old container depot area. Routes for Shuttle buses and pedestrians have been completed, and new signs will be added on the basis of user feedback. The line of fences will be landscaped with images of the forthcoming Jätkänsaari residential area, in order to hide the construction site from view.
Hernesaari Cruise Ship Terminal
The Hernesaari cruise ship terminal started its season on 16 May. A total of 14 turn-around visits have been reserved for ships owned by the Iberocruceros and Pullmantur Cruises S.L shipping companies. Starting this summer, the luggage of passengers coming from the airport will be x-rayed in the terminal. However, this only applies to the Iberocruceros ships.
Cruise Lines Committed to Environmental Protection
Last summer, Helsinki challenged the cruise lines to discharge their wastewater into the Helsinki sewer system in order to protect the Baltic Sea. Now 23 members of the European Cruise Council have accepted the challenge and have committed themselves to environmental protection. This is made possible by removing all additional wastewater fees and by receiving and handling the waste in a smooth-running manner. Helsinki is one of the few Baltic Sea harbours where this can be done.The challenge was accepted as part of the cooperation between European Cruise Council and Cruise Baltic to find better environmental solutions. A tour of the most important cruise destinations of the Baltic Sea was held in May, presenting new technical solutions which aim at protecting the environment.
Captain Paul Wright has been Master on QE2, the Queen Mary, and he is Master on the Queen Victoria. He oversaw the construction of both the Queen Mary and Queen Victoria and took delivery of both ships. He has been with Cunard for the past 30 years, but prior to that he was on cargo ships. In his interview in the book "Queen Victoria, A liner for the 21st Century", written by Sue Bryant and Gary Buchanan, when asked what his most memorable moments at sea had been, Captain Wright cited two: When he brought QE2 into New York for the first time after the September 11 attack on the World Trade Centre in 2001 and bringing Queen Mary 2 into Hamburg on her maiden call when half a million people turned out to greet the ship.
When asked what had changed in the cruise world over the 30 years since he started, his answer was: "Rules and regulations." Captain Wright added jokingly, "It makes you go greyer more quickly." Today's mass of rules and regulations makes it more and more difficult to keep up to date. More and more people are making more and more rules; one has to know and understand them, and this requires time. "But we do have our safety management system onboard that keeps track of all changes and new regulations, so we manage very well. It is not only the IMO regulations but also the local port's and state's laws and regulations that we must be aware of." When asked if it was more fun to be on a cruise ship 30 years ago compared with the life on board today, he says that it was perhaps better explained by saying it was more relaxed. Socialising with the passengers is similar today, except when you have a very port-intensive itinerary, there is less time to socialise, but, for instance, on a world cruise there is more time.
The captain says that one must obviously enjoy the social life; otherwise it would be better to be on a container ship. And Master Paul Wright says that now people on cruises like to experience different places, and new destinations are therefore most vital. The traditional cruise around the Mediterranean, calling at the usual ports, is perhaps not enough nowadays because so many people are well travelled. But generally speaking "I think the cruise industry has a tremendous future; it is such a good value holiday, and it is such a safe holiday."
Under the chairmanship of the Mayor of Bilbao, Inaki Azkuna, the IACP (International Association of Cities and Ports), the global network of port cities, held its General Assembly in Iceland at the invitation of the City and Port of Reykjavik. More than 130 delegates from 16 countries took part in the event. On the occasion of this General Assembly, the Board of Directors of IACP was partially renewed.Since Mr. Inaki Azkuna had reached the end of his mandate, a new IACP Chairman was elected in the person of Mr. Jean Pierre Lecomte, Honorary Chairman of the Grand Port Maritime du Havre.
IACP seminar under the title of: "Port Cities, the Godsend of tourism"
Participants and speakers placed most of their emphasis on tourist development projects capable of being integrated with port activities. It was also pointed out that, when safety and security conditions permit, the port can, on its own initiative, run enhancement projects for tourists through, for example, "discovery" bicycle paths, the staging of large port events, the creation of terraces and belvederes, and the opening of "Port Houses" or centres to explain the port. In all cases, the discovery of the port should give the visitor a better understanding of the port city area.The exceptional character of certain events is an incontestable advantage to provide the public with opportunities to feel the port.This also has the benefit of giving the port more of a citizen port image and, as such, to fit more naturally into the economic and social vitality of the port city. The port can also actively participate in the tourist development of the port cities and regions by facilitating the development of cruises. Beyond the reception of very large liners with several thousand passengers, the development of luxury cruises is for certain sites similar to Reykjavik, a rapidly developing opportunity with the berthing of liners as close as possible to the city centres for the greater pleasure of the tourists and the inhabitants.
Dialogue between stakeholders
Experience has shown that the best way to coordinate port activities and guarantee success, tourism, and temporary development projects in the cityport interface, is through dialogue between urban and port stakeholders and, of course, the business enterprises who are vital players in this process. The development of tourist activities connected to the port is also an excellent indicator of the quality of the relationship maintained between the city, the port and the population for a greater cohesion of the whole port city community.
Interview with the new Chariman Today, at the general meeting of IACP in Reykjavík, I was elected chairman of the association, but I'm a private businessman in LeHavre and my activities are focused on logistics in general: trailer rentals, warehousing, cargo claims and I'm also involved in the waste industry. In Le Havre we started to look at the cruise business nearly 8 to 10 years ago.
In the old days, Le Havre was known for the liner passenger ships on the Le Havre New York transatlantic route. We have the facilities and our people are still oriented towards the function of serving passengers. So as soon as we reactivated this business in the form of cruises, we immediately had a very positive response. Le Havre also has an advantage; it is not too far from Paris, only two hours by train or car. So when we started to cater for the cruise business our target was the American market for Paris and the D-day second world war beaches. During the last decade or so, cruises have been on the increase in Europe and Le Havre has also benefitted from that trend.We now have between 60 and 70 cruise calls annually to Le Havre. In Le Havre we have established a club around the cruise service that involves the City, the Tourism office, Chamber of Commerce and the port. Working in collaboration with each other, these four partners have refurbished the Cruise Centre, which is located very close to the city.We have also invested in a free shuttle bus from the port to the city centre. Before the shuttle bus, only a relatively low number of cruise passengers visited our city.The majority was going to Paris or to the D-day beaches or simply remaining on-board. Since we implemented the shuttle bus service, however, the number of passengers visiting the city has been steadily increasing.
When asked about what there is to see in Le Havre, Mr. Lecomte says that there is a section of the city that was rebuilt after the war that UNESCO declared as a protected heritage site a few years ago and that has attracted tourists. A new museum in Le Havre is also important for tourism and, last but not the least, the 12th century Cathedral, which is the only structure from this period to have survived the second world war bombings - all the surrounding buildings were destroyed by the aerial bombardments but the Cathedral was left untouched. Commenting on the fact that ports in Europe are, generally speaking, investing money in marketing to the cruise lines, which is really a new function for the ports, Mr. Leconte says: "We have a slightly different policy in Le Havre. We join forces with the city, the tourism authorities and the Chamber of Commerce, pool our resources, budget to market the destination. If the port were to do this alone, the rate of return on the investment would be too low and the budget would be smaller."
Cruise Europe News talked to Ms. Dolores Rois Orz, Head of the commercial Management Divisio of the Port of Vigo
In just six years, the number of cruise passengers visiting Vigo has tripled from 70,076 in 2003 to 216,333 in 2008.This is the greatest increase in Spain. Actually, the first half of this year these figures have almost doubled from the first half last year, from 19,710 to 37,514 passengers (90.3%). In this decade, around one million passengers on almost 600 liners have visited Vigo, making it the absolute leader of the entire Spanish Atlantic coast. In this regard,Vigo is the No. 3 port on the Spanish Peninsula, after Barcelona, Málaga and Cádiz, for number of passengers (excluding the Balearic Islands and two terminals in the Canaries).This is especially relevant if we consider that Barcelona is the 5th most important port in this area, with estimated visitors last year of almost 2 million. According to Lloyd's Cruise International, Barcelona is positioned after Miami, Port Canaveral and the Everglades in the US and Cozumel in Mexico, and this puts the Port of Vigo among the top 15 main European destinations.
Vigo's visitors, as of 1 June, increased by 25%, compared with the same period last year, and the port currently ranks third in growth in Spain: 8 times the national average, at 3%. Forecasts say that the Port of Vigo at endof- year will be fourth, close to Cadiz. Over 230,000 cruise passengers are projected to use the local Maritime Station this year, amounting nearly to a 10% increase over 2008, a record year. A remarkable fact is that Iberocruceros will open one of its operations centres for the Atlantic in the Port of Vigo, making it the base port of the company's flagship, Gran Voyager, a huge vessel. Five departures are scheduled for Spring 2010. According to data from local shipping agents, tour operators and the shipping companies, growth expectations are highly optimistic.The forecast is that over the next 5 years, not only will Vigo's figures as a port of transit increase, but it is also expected to consolidate its position as a base port for certain routes and lines. These forecasts consider not only the potential of the Galician region as a basic customer but also the North of Portugal and the central and northwestern parts of Spain. The Port of Vigo is also part of the marketing initiative Atlantic Alliance, devoted to the promotion of cruise-ship destinations in Europe between Hamburg and Lisbon, and it introduces a single destionation linking 7 countries and 7 capital cities with cruises lasting 10 or 12 days.
New President, New Vision.
The current Chair of the Port Authority of Vigo is held by Ms Corina Porro, who has always been closely related to the city in her roles as a tourism town councillor, the director general and Minister of Social Services of the Galician regional government, as an MP of the Galician Parliament and as a senator in the Spanish Chamber. She was also elected Mayor of Vigo in 2007. In May 2009 she was appointed as Chair of the Port Authority of Vigo, and this was the reason for her resignation from all the other positions she had been holding till then - to keep on working for the city of Vigo. Her main current commitment is to the development of the Port of Vigo, to ensure its growth and improve both operational capacity and results. These measures include the extension and reorganization of the port areas. The aim is to make Vigo a preferential port, increase traffic and set the motorway of the seas in motion.
The environment and the natural resources of the estuary, Ría of Vigo, shall nevertheless be respected. Due to the current economic crisis, in 2010 the commercial traffic is expected to increase only 1%, taking into account the Plan to Recover and Improve the Port Activity. These expectations allow for investments of around EUR 36.8 M this year. However, one main objective for the Port of Vigo in coming years is the coordination of cruise-ship arrivals, to be accomplished by improving, extending and updating infrastructure providing ocean liners with necessary support and therefore promoting the tourism industry in the city of Vigo.
Short-term Improvements
Considering current short-term figures and forecasts for increase in the number of vessels, as well as the partial change from port of transit to base port for some of the calls, the new Chair has successfully adapted the plans existing when she took over. The extension of the berthing line and improvement of the facilities for these operations are urgent issues that cannot be delayed until the relevant authorities endorse the project.The plans are officially drafted and the works are approved. Any delay could compromise Vigo's achievement of its goals, thereby resulting in reduced competitiveness, seriously affecting Vigo and in favour of other ports in the area. For this reason, assuming that further improvements can be made, the current cruise quay's berthing line will be extended by means of piles and dolphins, and another dock located downtown will be adapted, the Comercio Quay (the old Fruit Dock). This will make the total length for cruise-ships in non-commercial quays, with all necessary equipment and in the heart of downtown, 1,000 linear meters.
This transformation will be finished by the beginning of the cruise season in 2010. It is worth mentioning that during the last Cruise Europe AGM held in Vigo (April 2009), several guest speakers from the most important cruise companies advised us to make the enlargement of the berth line a priority, and all of them thought that although an ambitious major enlargement and modification of the port's entire central area could be positive, a simpler solution would be much more useful to the cruise traffic. Indicative of the cruise companies' expectations, on 6 July the Port of Vigo was, for the first time, the starting point of the new "MSC SPLENDIDA", 2,100 passengers embarked for Lisbon, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Marsella and Barcelona. Over 20 Port employees and a team of Government Police was devoted to access control management, baggage delivery, getting information to the passengers, etc. The Port Authority has already adapted an area of 450 sq. m. within the Maritime Station, providing 20 posts equipped with the most modern and effective technologies for issuing boarding cards.
PASSENGERS' FACILITIES at the Port & International connections: VIGO AIRPORT
The Cruise Quay - recently named "Alberto Durán" - has a brand new terminal. Its Cruise Lounge provides passengers with a comfortable reception, where they can learn about this port of call and everything it has to offer through original audiovisual shows on walls and brochures. They can also rest a while before going back on board, while connecting with the rest of the world through a powerful wi-fi service. Security and access control systems have been adapted so that queues are significantly reduced while increasing safety at the same time. The Vigo Port Facility has met the standards of the ISPS Code since 2004, and nowadays it fulfils an important part of the Europeans rules, getting high marks from ships and companies using the port and passing many security inspections with the best results. Our high level security standard is due to the strong professional attitude of our Port Police and the Government's security forces. Specialized divers, trained dogs and security forces check the cruise area before each call. The Port Control Centre is also at this terminal, using over 40 cameras and monitoring the whole system of gate-access control, the emergency communication mechanism and the AIS system. Only a few feet away from the Terminal gate are taxis, ATMs, buses and a modern shopping mall meeting all passengers' expectations with from chemists, hairdressers, boutiques, a delicatessen and typical gastronomic gifts, souvenirs, technology stores, bars & restaurants. In 2008 the Vigo Airport accommodated 1,278,762 passengers, 17,934 aircraft operations and 1,481 cargo tons. It ranks no. 23 in passenger traffic, of the 47 airports of the AENA network. The average increase 2000-2007 was 9.87%, more than any other Spanish airport during this period (5.83%) Main connections are set with Madrid, Barcelona and Paris, although there are flights to Valencia, Bilbao, Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote (in Spain) and to London (abroad). In the international connections area, the route Vigo-Paris CDG allows for connections to other European and global destinations. Lowcost companies are starting operations, too, and AENA has already published the callfor- tenders for the extension of the carparking and aircraft taxing areas.