Ports & destinations

Incheon Port Authority to slash passenger vessel emissions with ABB shore power

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 20 September 2019 20 September 2019

ABB has secured the contract covering South Korea’s commitment to sustainable shore-to-ship power, after a pilot scheme for passenger ships to plug into the local grid received the go ahead from Incheon Port Authority (IPA).

“As the first agreement covering shore-to-ship power in South Korea, this is a truly significant breakthrough for ABB,” said Juha Koskela, Managing Director, ABB Marine & Ports. “We are honored to be selected by IPA to support their efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships, as well as moving towards increasingly sustainable port operations.”

In addition to a new USD 160 million ferry terminal opened in April 2019, Port of Incheon inaugurated South Korea’s largest cruise terminal in June this year. Given its metropolitan location and IPA’s ambitions to develop its ‘Golden Harbor’ vision for Incheon as a new tourism hub for the Northeast Asia, environmental credentials rank highly in port priorities.

ABB’s full scope of delivery includes the installation of an onshore power connection at the Incheon passenger terminal consisting of an enclosure featuring a 2000 kVA capacity Static Frequency Convertor with 50/60HZ output, a transformer, a Neutral Grounding Registor Unit and an outdoor enclosure.

ABB’s shore-to-ship power technology is proven from the performance and reliability point of view, but also in terms of optimizing the cost of electricity. It has already been integrated by over 50 ports around the world into strategies that reduce emissions overall and incentivize clean shipping.

An increasing number of ports around the world offer shore power for ferries, as well as other passenger vessel types. There is a clear interest to lower pollution in ports, and one way of doing that is to install shore power and have a clean grid feeding to it.

Bantry Bay Port Company aims to Increase the number of cruise calls to Bantry Harbour

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 13 September 2019 13 September 2019

Bantry Bay Port Company held a cruise seminar in the Maritime Hotel, Bantry on Thursday 29th August 2019 to launch their cruise strategy for Bantry. Entitled ‘Collectively Growing Cruise Tourism in Bantry’ the seminar was aimed at local attractions and businesses in the area and is an opportunity to get an insight into the cruise industry in Ireland and globally and how Bantry can capitalise on this market while remaining sensitive to Bantry harbour and its environs.

The Port of Cork, who control and operate Bantry Bay Port Company have a wealth of experience when it comes to the cruise industry. Since 1990, Cobh has been handling cruise liners with over 100 calls in 2019 and some of the largest vessels visiting.

Bantry Bay Port Company operates as a tender port with no dedicated cruise berth; however this will not impede Bantry from growing. The smaller cruise liner market or ‘expedition’ market has huge growth potential and it is this market that Bantry hopes to capitalise on over the next few years, with the guidance of the Port of Cork.

The expedition market, once a small niche, is now set for dramatic growth with 40 or more ships already on order for the 2023 market. Both new entrants and established cruise lines, ranging from Celebrity Cruises to Crystal Cruises, Hapag Lloyd, Hurtigruten, Seabourn Cruise Line and Silversea Cruises, have each announced plans for new expedition cruise ships. This expedition market is all about the experience for passengers on smaller vessels which can easily access remote places that the larger cruise liners cannot.

Port of Cork Chief Executive Brendan Keating said: "The destination is the centre stage and the ship is the vehicle to get there. In this case, Bantry is the main attraction and we need to attract the right vessels for passengers to see this beautiful part of the world. However, we (Port of Cork) cannot do it alone and that is why we want to collectively grow this business with the local area and the many exciting attractions and businesses."

He continued: "As the cruise business in Bantry continues to grow, a wider and united approach with the county council, shore excursion companies, local tourism organisations and attractions is needed to promote the region and the activities which cruise passengers can enjoy during their visit."

Speaking at the cruise seminar in Bantry weree Conor Mowlds Chairman of Cruise Ireland, Chris Coates Group Commercial Director for Cruise & Maritime Voyages, Derry Cronin Specialised Travel Services, Michael McCarthy Chairman of Cruise Europe and Michael Pat Murphy and Assistant Harbour Master Bantry Bay Port Company.

In 2019 Bantry handled 10 cruise liner calls bringing over 8,000 passengers and crew. In 2020 there are 14 calls with some repeat visitors and maiden calls expected.

Cruise tourism brought Svalbard $12 million in earnings in 2018

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 13 September 2019 13 September 2019

A new study of the economic impact of cruise tourism in Svalbard shows that expedition and conventional cruise ships made a substantial contribution to the local economy by purchasing goods and services for more than USD 12 million last year.

Tourism has been highlighted as an important industry for Svalbard now and in the years to come. As Arctic tourism continues to grow, the travel industry is taking steps to contribute to knowledge-based management of tourism in Svalbard. So far, there has not existed an overview of how much money cruise operators leave behind in the community when visiting Svalbard. A new study brings these facts to the table.

The study takes into account personal spending by passengers while they are ashore as well as all the goods and services that the operator purchases locally, such as supplies, shore and sea-based excursions, accommodation, port facilities and fees.

The study shows that expedition cruises have an average economic contribution of 4,235 NOK (USD 474) per passenger, while conventional cruises have an economic contribution of 810 NOK (USD 90) per passenger. The economic contribution per expedition cruise passenger is 5,2 times larger than that of conventional cruise passengers. Expedition cruise ships make substantial purchases locally in Svalbard, contributing to their high economic contribution per passenger.

Conventional cruising is used to describe cruise operators on transit call in Longyearbyen where Svalbard is one of many destinations in an international cruise itinerary. Expedition cruising is characterized by smaller vessels that are not reliant on port infrastructure and bring passengers close to nature by making landings in more remote areas. For the purpose of this study, expedition cruising has been defined as a cruise operator that is a member of the AECO that operates in the Arctic and others with interest in the industry.

The total economic contribution generated by cruise tourism in Svalbard in 2018 is estimated to be 110 million NOK (USD 12 million). Expedition cruises, which carried 17 245 passengers to Svalbard in 2018, contribute with two thirds of the amount, while conventional cruises contribute with a third. The sheer volume of conventional cruise passengers, with 45 097 passengers in 2018, means that even though there is a low per passenger expenditure, they still make up a substantial amount of the economic impact. Estimates show that the number of cruise passengers visiting Svalbard will increase next year, leading to an increase in local revenue from cruise tourism.

The Epinion study was presented at the Optimal Tourism Balance Workshop in Longyearbyen September 11, 2019. The study was commissioned by Visit Svalbard and the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) and funded by Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund.

Representatives of the travel industry believe that this study will help enlighten the debate around cruise tourism in Svalbard.

French Atlantic coast ports upgrade facilities, capitalise on events and festivals to enhance experience

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 08 September 2019 08 September 2019

Ports on the French Atlantic coast capitalise on the many festivals and events that take place in the region to enhance their offering to the cruise industry.

At Le Havre, which is expecting ocean going ships on 135 calls to bring 350,000 passenger to the port, with 133 river cruise vessels adding 16,700 passengers to the total, the Terminal 12 has been expanded to cover 2,400sqm compared to just 600sqm before the expansion. New security check equipment has been installed and a pedestrian walkway has been built to the centre of the city. The waterfront of the city has undergone a face lift as well to improve the experience of visitors a beach promenade is now linked to the port area.

Among the numerous events and festivals the region, the Normandy Impressionist Festival will from 3 April to 6 September next year, while music lovers will find Dixie Days and an Offenbach Festival on the menu. Christmas markets will also take place in the city.

Le Havre has a dedicated team to work with the cruise industry and the port authority offers incentives to repeat visitors, with a decreasing fee system as soon as a cruise line calls three times a year. This can reduce the port fees up to 90 %. The Cruise Department of Le Havre Etretat Normandy Tourism manages the cruise terminal in Le Havre with an agreement with the Port Authority.

“Besides the organisation of the operations and security, we care for the welcome of cruise passengers in the Cruise Terminal and downtown, at the shuttle arrival, with the Cruise Welcome Team who is easily recognisable thanks to their red jackets marked with our cruise logo. A flyer, Le Havre Highlights is specially adapted to our cruise visitors, the cruise team said in a statement.

Crew members working onboard cruise ships have not been forgotten either: in conjunction with the Seamen’s Club, the Tourist Office pays special attention to providing a welcome for sailors calling at Le Havre and ensuring their welfare.

The emulation around the cruise activity has strengthened since the establishment of the Le Havre Cruise Club in 2012. The Le Havre Cruise Club gathers over 50 members including official entities (the port of Le Havre, the Le Havre Town Council, Urban District Council and Chamber of Commerce) and private partners who decided to become involved in the development of the activity,” the cruise team said.

River cruises are also developing fast on major French rivers - the Seine, the Loire and the Garonne – flowing into the English Channel and the Atlantic Ocean, offering cruise guests new experiences of the French Art de Vivre.

Each region of the French Atlantic Ports offers a wide range of excursions, experiences and unique UNESCO sites to visit. Themes to explore are as diverse as culture, World Heritage, nature, history, shopping, traditions, gastronomy, events and leisure.

Normandy is the natural gateway to Paris. It has always been a source of inspiration for painters and the Impressionists made it their homeland. A triennial Normandy Impressionist Festival that will be held again next year is a flag ship event in the region. Meanwhile, the Cherbourg cruise terminal will have its car park modified to better handle vehicles. Other cruise ports in Normandy are Rouen, Honfleur and Caen-Ouistreham.

Brittany that is located further west from Normandy stands apart from the rest of France, with its impressive medieval fortress towns, its beautiful preserved coastlines and its Celtic traditions. It is the location of several festivals, which include Dinard British Film Festival, International Maritime Festival (end of September), Folk festival music of the world (beginning July every year) and Cornwall Festival with its 2 000 dancers and pipers in the heart of the historic city of Quimper that is held each year. And 13 to 19 July 2020 the Brest’s International Maritime Festival that is held every four years will welcome visitors again.

As far as facilities are concerned, Saint Malo will invest €700,000 in a new pedestrian bridge or corridor to access its terminal in Saint Malo at the end of 2019. Brest and Lorien also receive cruise ships in the region.

In the Loire Valley that is home to many UNESCO world heritage sites, another one will join their ranks in September 2019 with the launching of the Heron's tree project: this new site will feature the most beautiful urban gardens in the world. To facilitate calls, a pontoon is being planned at St Nazareth to receive large ships, a city that is a gateway to the castes and vineyards of the Loire Valley.

The South West region of France is homie to a mix of medieval ports, Vauban fortifications, fascinating architecture from the 18th century, castles, or half-timbered houses and towns with narrow streets, as well as gastronomy and worldwide renowned vineyards.

Events in the region include the 2019 Médoc Marathon in the vineyards (the only marathon where you can taste the finest Bordeaux wines), opening of MECA during summer 2019, an iconic building which will host Bordeaux new contemporary art museum and the 2020 Bordeaux Wine Festival.

Right into the beautiful gardens of the city of Cognac alongside the river Charente, the Cognac Blues Passion Festival is a yearly festival - it will run from 7 January to 7 May next year, with internationally renowned artists and also young talented swingers and first-time bands. Bayonne festival (les fêtes de Bayonne in French), with over a million visitors, it is one of the most attractive and popular events in France. Facilities are also being improved for cruise visitors: in Pauillac (one hour from Bordeaux) for large cruise ships under project Destination La Rochelle. Bordeaux and Bayonne are the other cruise ports to South-Western France.