Tuesday, June 25, 2024 - 09:54 by ce-press
On April 1 this year, Stornoway Port welcomed its first ship to the new Deep Water Terminal. The inaugural call was made by Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition, and the largest ship to date, Holland America Line’s Rotterdam, arrived on May 15.
Construction of the £59 million (€69.9 million) project began in May 2022 with the aim of being able to accommodate vessels of 360m in length and with a 10m draught.
“Our berth is the only deep water berth north of Greenock on the west coast of Scotland. This development benefits the cruise industry by providing more docking opportunities and also boosts the local economy through increased tourism and business activity,” says Kirsty Hutchison, cruise manager Stornoway Port.
“The new berth has been popular with all the ships that have berthed so far and it fulfils a long-standing desire from the cruise industry for a terminal that can provide a gateway to the Outer Hebrides.”
This year, the port has 93 scheduled calls across all its berths, marking the busiest year in its history. “The addition of the Deep Water Terminal significantly enhances the Port’s capacity to accommodate larger vessels, supporting the growth of cruise tourism throughout the region,” Hutchison adds.