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Details
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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
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Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations
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Published: 23 February 2012 23 February 2012
Aware of the current spotlight on the industry following recent events - and the challenges already in place with the on-going worldwide economic conditions - Cruise Baltic took this opportunity to reiterate its on-going commitment not only to working closely together as a unified force in the Baltic Sea Region but also collaborating together with industry colleagues at the European Cruise Council (ECC), CLIA and the Passenger Shipping Association.
The Cruise Baltic destinations are committed to communicating their messages to the marketplace on the value of cruising, ensuring they offer to both the cruise line and their passengers ‘the world’s best cruise experience’. Says Bo Larsen, Cruise Baltic Director: “our enthusiasm - as a collective region - to be innovative, creative and proactive, is even stronger; effecting the highest standards of communication between the cruise lines operating in the Baltic Sea and the shore-side operators.”Larsen continued: ”It is essential to face head-on all the current market challenges being presented, from the issues of safety and environment, to fuel and climate change – hence the choice of our carefully-selected guest speakers we hosted here at the Stockholm meeting; we appreciate their support in joining us at this particular time.”Highlights on the 2-day meeting Agenda included presentations and commentary from industry experts, including: Tim Marking, ECC Secretary General; Neil Palomba, Chairman of the Ports & Infrastructure Sub-Committee ECC and Corporate Operating Officer of MSC Cruises; Robert Ashdown, Director - Technical, Environment & Operations, ECC; and travel industry consultant David Selby, Managing Director, Travelyields.Bearing in mind that cruising is a seasonal-based industry in the Baltic Sea region, the subjects and commentary from guest speakers’ presentations included:* David Selby: “Expect the Unexpected” - Selby stressed the importance of ports having standard incident procedures in place at all times; and also spoke of his relevant experience gained during his career as Managing Director of the UK cruising arm of TUI Travel plc, dealing, for example, with the 2010 Ash crisis. In a second presentation he also conveyed the need for the ports ‘to get themselves noticed’ when approaching itinerary planners at the cruise lines and offered advice on how to do so.* Tim Marking and Neil Palomba, ECC: ‘The landscape has changed’. With emphasis now on Brussels, the subject of operation safety legislation is being reviewed and will be on the agenda for months to come.* Neil Palomba spoke of: ‘the need to work proactively together as an industry’. He welcomed the opportunity to speak to the Cruise Baltic partners, as it is essential to overcome current issues and to work collectively towards raising confidence levels.MSC operates ships, however, we need the ports who are the experts shore-side, to make recommendations to us. Finding solutions together and working pro-actively 3 – 5 years ahead is essential; he encouragedCruise Baltic ports to lobby their own cities and councils, identifying who are the decision makers in each destination.* Robert Ashdown, speaking on environmental issues: Emission Control Areas (ECAs), this is the biggest challenge currently facing the industry; European controls are being reviewed that establish what marine fuel oils ships can burn in 2015. Given the increases in fuel costs that accompany this legislation, currently the impact on what this will do for cruise numbers in the Baltic is a guessing game - cruising is price sensitive and costs cannot be passed on easily. Traditional growth is driven by perceived value-for-money. The European cruise industry makes a massive contribution to the economies of Europe Day 2 of the meeting agenda also featured separate, participatory sessions on reviewing ‘Port Service Standards’, moderated by professional Luis de Carvalho, CEO Consult DC. This has resulted in agreement to Cruise Baltic forming a new Port Standard Sub Committee, looking to work closely in co-operation with the ECC to evaluate and tackle all relevant issues, looking at implementation in stages.
Speaking as host port, in support of Cruise Baltic and its initiatives, partner Josefin Haraldsson, Project Manager, Stockholm Cruise Network, said: “It has been a pleasure on this occasion to showcase Stockholm to our industry colleagues. The importance of attending the Cruise Baltic meetings is Invaluable to us, providing an ideal opportunity both to exchange views with other Baltic Sea ports and at the same time talk to key people from the cruise industry. It is essential for us to share knowledge and information on how to improve our cruise product.”
The significant results of the Cruise Baltic Market Review 2012 were presented by Bo Larsen to the Cruise Baltic delegates, final details of which will be announced at Cruise Shipping Miami next month. This report presents actual data collected from the Baltic Sea Region ports throughout 2011 and expected numbers for 2012.
Cruise Baltic is a network of cruise destinations in the Baltic Sea offering easy access to 10 countries on a string with an ocean of adventures. The association - started in 2004 with 12 destinations, headed by Director Bo Larsen - has now grown to 25 destinations.
