Global Ports Holding (GPH), the Turkish company that is the world's largest independent cruise port operator, has announced its intention to proceed with an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange.

The company expects raise a total of $250 million, of which $75 million would be in primary offering of shares, the company said in a statement.

 “Current passenger trends and market dynamics provide an excellent opportunity to expand our business further internationally. Listing on the London Stock Exchange is an exciting milestone for the Company. It provides an opportunity for people to share in our ambitious plans to expand our existing footprint of 14 ports in eight countries, through acquisitions across Europe, the Caribbean and Asia,” said Emre Sayin, CEO, in the statement.

The company operates 14 ports in eight countries and in 2014, the ports handled a total of 7.8 million passengers, twice the figure of 2014. It added six new facilities in its portfolio in the past 18 months.

“The Company plans to use the majority of the net proceeds that it receives from the Offering to acquire and develop new ports. GPH has identified and is in discussions with a number of cruise port acquisition targets, including nine ports in Europe, seven ports in the Caribbean and four ports in Asia,” it said.