Monday, July 8, 2019 - 10:48 by ce-press
SCH has been awarded the contract with Liverpool City Council to handle all cruiseships calling at Liverpool Cruise Terminal (LCT) for a further three years.
The agreement follows an extensive procurement and evaluation exercise and includes the option for an additional two years beyond 2021; this will mean SCH will be the cruiseship handlers when Liverpool’s new terminal opens towards the end of the 2021 season.
There will be over 85 cruiseship calls to LCT this year, including those from Fred Olsen Lines, Cruise & Maritime Voyages, Disney Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises, Cunard Line and Princess Cruises.
SCH will provide all stevedoring, including baggage handling and stores loading, and rope handling services, while sister company Cruise and Passenger Services also provides valet cruise parking services for passengers. Around 50 staff from Merseyside are employed for each turnaround cruise call in the port.
The contract extension builds upon the previous three-year deal and underlines the company’s role as an extensive provider of cruiseship support in the UK, with operations also in Southampton and, through sister company Southern Maritime Services, in Portsmouth.
Angie Redhead, head of City Assets, said: “With our new passenger terminal on the horizon, these are exciting times for Liverpool’s continued growth as a major UK cruise port and the passenger handling operation is an essential part of the service. SCH have shown over the past three years that they are among the leading experts in supporting cruiseship operations and we look forward to continuing our solid working relationship with them.”
