Ports & destinations

Odessa says port is safe for cruise ships, information available online

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 24 March 2014 24 March 2014

The port of Odessa says that the port is safe for cruise liners to visit and notes that it provides information about the situation on its website.

"Following the results of Cruise Shipping Miami Convention and due to the current political situation in Ukraine and contradictory and exaggerated information provided by various both Ukrainian and foreign media, I would like to provide an opportunity for you to give own objective assessment of the real situation in Odessa," said Elvira Leschinskaya, an official at communications department of the port.

"Meanwhile I would like to inform additionally that the port of Odessa operates in normal mode. The passenger terminal is absolutely safe for mooring operations and for passengers ashore. All the tourist sites operate in usual order according to regular working hours. They are not blocked and are free for visits," she said in a statement

Information about the current situation of the port and the city by means of web cameras at official web pages at

http://www.port.odessa.ua/index.php/ru/o-porte/veb-kamery-akvatorii-porta and http://webcam.iac.odessa.ua/?lang=en

"Besides, we initiated regular photo reviews on the current state of the port and the city at http://www.blacksea-cruises.com , section News," she added.

Transtec 2014 to feature port development event

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 21 March 2014 21 March 2014

The Transtec 2014 event in St Petersburg in the autumn will feature The Big Ports and Shipping Event for Russia that will run from 1 to 3 October at the Lenexpo Exhibition Complex in central St Petersburg. The programme has now expanded to include leading national maritime institutions, including commitments from:

• Maritime Collegium of the Government of Russian Federation
• Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs
• Russian National Chamber of Shipping
• Russian Travel Union
• Russian Association of Sea Commercial Ports
• International Coordination Council for Trans-Siberia Transportation
• North-West Transport Union
• Maritime Council of the Government of St. Petersburg

"The Russian ports and shipping market continues attract new private investment. Cargo handling across all sectors grew by 9% in 2013, a record volume of 589 million tonnes. Private investments in the Russian port sector totalled $900 million in 2012, and are planned to reach a five year total of $7.6 billion in 2015," the organisers said in a statement.

As Transtec 2014 open its doors to the International maritime community, the Russian Association of Sea Ports (ASOP) President Mr O. A. Terekov highlights the Event’s international B2B significance with the following message: “You will make direct personal contacts to combine our joint efforts and to display the most modern systems, technologies and equipment to meet the future demands for efficient and safe transportation. There are important opportunities to be explored and I look forward to receiving your kind response to our invitation”, said Mr Terekov.

Key topics of the Rosmorport FSUE “Strategy for Development of Marine Ports of Russia to 2030” will also richly support the Port Programme, focusing on:

• Combining the interests of Ports, Shipping and Shippers
• Port Users perspectives on national and global shipping
• Development of the Cruise and Ferry Market for the Sea and Inland Waterways of Russia

The Shipping Programme at Transtec 2014 also promises to provide an excellent platform for debate supported by the following topics:

• Shipping for the development of the RF Inland Waterway Systems
• Shipping Logistics to develop the Northern Sea Route as Transit Route and Destination Route
• Increased cooperation with foreign partners, manufacturers and service

Cruise Baltic Crown Award goes to Pullmantur's Eduardo López-Puertas

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 14 March 2014 14 March 2014

At CSM 2014 this week, network Cruise Baltic has awarded the “2014 Cruise Baltic Crown Award” to Eduardo López-Puertas, Vice President Operations, Pullmantur Cruises.

Speaking at the annual Award Reception, in front of industry guests and Cruise Baltic partners, Bo Larsen, Cruise Baltic Director said: “We have been so appreciative of Eduardo’s commitment to our region, ensuring Pullmantur’s Baltic itineraries feature a variety of Baltic ports during our season. Eduardo is a personality, who has been more than willing to share his knowledge, benefiting our network tremendously.”

On receiving his award – presented by Katarina Olsson, Business Area Manager Leisure Travel, Malmö Tourism and Ann-Marget Hellén, Director of Tourism, Turku Touring - Eduardo López-Puertas commented: “Receiving this accolade gives such value and recognition to all the work that has been achieved during recent years – Pullmantur working closely with the Cruise Baltic destinations and the port authorities.

“We are pioneers in effecting full turnarounds at some of the ports, including Malmo and Tallinn. This award is a splendid way of celebrating success and acknowledges all the hard team work which has been involved.”

Court suspends planned big ship ban in Venice

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 20 March 2014 20 March 2014

A court has suspended a law that was planned to forbid the use of Giudecca canal in Venice by cruise ships of larger than than 96,000 gross tons.

The law has been suspended by a regional court in the Veneto region, which ruled that alternative routes for the ships to reach the terminal have not yet been agreed on and that the risks posed by the vessels had not been proven, the Daily Telegraph reports in London.

The ban was due to take effect in November.

Cruise embarkations at UK ports exceeded 1 million for first time 2013

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 12 March 2014 12 March 2014

The number of passengers starting their cruise from a UK port topped the one million mark for the first time in 2013, Travel Weekly reports in its daily newsletter.

This included overseas passengers who made up 21% of the total, a proportion which marked a return to levels last seen in 2010, according to CruiseBritain.

Meanwhile, CLIA UK has reported earlier that 1.79 million British people took a cruise last year.

In addition, more than 100 ships called into UK ports, bringing a record 866,000 passengers on day calls, a rise of 20% over 2012.

A total of 49 lines visited the UK’s 51 cruise ports last year with passengers taking day excursions to attractions and destinations across the country.

Incoming Cruise Britain chairman Daren Taylor said: “With a day call growth rate of this magnitude, we are on course to see over a million passenger day calls into UK ports this year. This represents significant tourism revenue for each of the ports visited.

“The rise in both the day call and embarkation figures is extremely encouraging and is a positive endorsement of Britain's value as a cruise destination and source market.”

He added: “CruiseBritain continues to raise the profile of Britain as a cruise destination and has just introduced a new theme based around heritage coasts.