Daily Sabah (Turkey)

Global Ports adds Liverpool port to its network

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LONDON-LISTED Global Ports Holding (GPH) inked yesterday a 50-year contract to operate cruise services at the Liverpool Cruise Port, betting on the expanding Northern European, British and Irish cruise markets.

“Global Ports Holding, the world’s largest independen­t cruise port operator, is pleased to announce that it has signed a 50-year agreement with Peel Ports Group’s subsidiary, The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company Ltd, to operate cruise services at Liverpool Cruise Port,” GPH said in a statement.

“In the picturesqu­e setting of Liverpool, a symbolic moment was held at the Cruise terminal, bringing together leaders from Global Ports Holding, Peel Ports Group and Liverpool City Council, marking a significan­t milestone in the port’s journey,” it added.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

Liverpool is a major cruise destinatio­n for both American and European travelers, acting as a gateway to the Northern European and Round Britain cruise markets, Global Ports said.

There has been a boom in cruise travel over the past year, with travel agents and U.S. cruise operators expecting 2024 travel volumes to be higher than pre-pandemic levels as they are still cheaper than land-based alternativ­es for travelers across income and budget levels.

Recognizin­g the port’s immense potential, GPH, under the agreement with Mersey Docks And Harbour Company, plans to invest up to 25 million pounds ($31.45 million) into infrastruc­ture and enhancemen­ts, subject to the granting of the appropriat­e permits and licenses, the cruise operator said yesterday.

This investment will include the addition of a new floating dock that will increase capacity and allow for the simultaneo­us berthing of two 300-meter ships and over 7,000 passengers a day, it said.

The GPH said this investment will also see the constructi­on of a new terminal building that will enhance the passenger experience at the port, featuring waterfront retail and hospitalit­y offerings that will cater not just to cruise passengers but also to land-based visitors and local residents.

CONTEXT, BY NUMBERS

Liverpool Cruise Port is currently unable to meet the increasing demand due to infrastruc­ture restrictio­ns, said Global Ports, which expects to take over operations this month.

The investment of Global Ports is expected to enable Liverpool Cruise Port to cater to over 200,000 passengers in 2024, compared with 186,000 last year. Upon completion of infrastruc­ture developmen­t, this number is expected to exceed 300,000 per annum, the company added, signaling a promising trajectory for the port’s future.

“The addition of Liverpool Cruise Port, our first cruise port in the British Isles, to our network marks another important milestone in GPH’s ongoing developmen­t and growth,” said Mehmet Kutman, chairperso­n and CEO of Global Ports Holding.

“I would like to thank Liverpool City Council and Peel Ports for their support throughout the process. Liverpool boasts a rich maritime heritage, and the GPH team looks forward to working with all stakeholde­rs to further enhance the success of this remarkable destinatio­n.”

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