Global Ports Holding (GPH), a fully-owned subsidiary of Global Yatırım Holding in Turkey and currently the operator of three leading commercial and cruise ports in Turkey, says that it has been selected as the preferred bidder, as part of a consortium comprising Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, Creuers del Port de Barcelona, S.A. and Grupo Sousa – Investimentos SGPS, LDA, for the Built Operate Transfer (BOT) contract of the Lisbon Cruise Terminal. The 35-year contract will include the construction and the operation of a landmark cruise terminal, on a public-service concession basis, at the Lisbon Cruise Terminal.
"With this new terminal, the Port Authority of Lisbon aims to grow in calls, cruise passengers, as well as increasing the turn-around operations with a view to double the current traffic of 550,000 passengers in the medium term. The new terminal is expected to provide the port with an estimated 1.8mn passengers while supporting the growth of turnaround business and as such contributing favorably to regional tourism and economy. The construction of the new Lisbon Cruise Terminal, estimated to cost about €24 million in total investment, will start in early 2014 with expected completion by the end of 2015," GPH said in a statement
Arpak Demircan, the Deputy CEO of GPH, said “We, as GPH, have been targeting organic growth till now while revamping efficiency, systems and marketing processes in our Turkish ports. Having also successfully integrated our three ports, we are currently focusing on inorganic growth. In that vein, we acquired 62% of the Port of Bar and 43% of Creuers del Port de Barcelona, S.A. through Barcelona Port Investments in partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., one of the world’s leading cruise operators. Now, joining forces again with Royal Caribbean, we are targeting to add the Lisbon cruise terminal to our expanding portfolio of international assets. Once completed, with the addition of Lisbon Cruise Port to the existing portfolio of Barcelona, Malaga, Singapore, Kuşadası, Bodrum and Antalya Ports, GPH will reach 10mn cruise passengers worldwide and this will make us the world’s largest cruise operator.”
GPH has bid for the concession in an SPV wherein 40% is held by GPH, 30% by Grupo Sousa Investimentos SGPS, 20% by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and 10% by Creuers Del Port Barcelona S.A.