Ports & destinations

Gary Lee Moore begins duties as Port of Los Angeles Interim Executive Director

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 13 November 2013 13 November 2013

Gary Lee Moore, who has served as Los Angeles City Engineer and General Manager of the city's Bureau of Engineering for the past decade, has started his duties as interim executive director of the Port of Los Angeles.

"Gary is a trusted public servant, with a 28-year track record with the City," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who appointed Moore to the position last month. "His leadership will be critical in our efforts to grow and maximize the Port's economic impact while minimizing environmental concerns in Harbor area neighborhoods and the entire Los Angeles region."

"The Port is a critical economic engine for the city and region," said Moore. "In the face of fierce global competition, my focus will be to keep us on a path of sustained growth that generates jobs and business investment, and also assures that we retain our position as the nations leading port."

Moore replaces Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D., who served as the Port's executive director for almost eight years before announcing her retirement in October. Moore's first order of business will be a trip to Japan, where he will meet with Japanese customers and port officials.

Moore is an experienced executive and professional engineer. In his decade-long tenure as city engineer for the City of Los Angeles, he oversaw an annual operating budget of $149 million and 400 active projects totaling $2.9 billion. He was responsible for the completion of 1,357 projects and 3,000 emergency sewer repairs totaling more than $5.2 billion.

Prior to that, Moore served as General Manager of the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering, where he was responsible for the City's vast network of public infrastructure. His duties included the planning, design, and construction of all public facilities, management of billions of dollars of voter-approved public bond funds, and the delivery of cross-sector local government programs serving millions of residents and businesses in diverse neighborhoods and industries. Moore has also worked closely with city leaders on efforts to revitalize the Los Angeles River.

With a proven track record in sustainable development, under Moores leadership, many building projects – including the Griffith Observatory and the Los Angeles Police Department Administration Building – were successfully certified according to U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED") standards. The LEED" certification incorporates advances in green design, construction, and operation technologies that reflect the highest levels of environmental quality and natural resource stewardship.

The Port of Los Angeles is America's premier port and has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit the economy as well as the quality of life for the region and the nation it serves. As the leading seaport in North America in terms of shipping container volume and cargo value, the Port generates more than 830,000 regional jobs and $35 billion in annual wages and tax revenues.

Strong cruise season in Copenhagen

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 11 November 2013 11 November 2013

When the 2013 cruise season ends, the number of calls will be 346 and the number of passengers just over 800,000. Copenhagen continues to be one of the most popular cruise destinations in Europe.

"Copenhagen has become the natural hub for cruise traffic in northern Europe. We continue to be competitive and are attracting both new and returning guests. The location of the port in the capital is perfect. The airport is close by and Copenhagen is a city that attracts many different types of shipping line and guest – there is something for everyone here," says Arnt Møller Pedersen, COO Cruise and Ferries at CMP.

The biggest month for cruises was June, with 88 calls, followed by 86 in July and 74 in August. The season ends in December with five Christmas cruises. Of the 346 calls, 46% are turnaround calls, i.e. the ships take new passengers on board before departure and then passengers disembark when the cruise is over. Numerous changes of crew also take place in Copenhagen during the season. Copenhagen is therefore a sort of home port for these ships during the summer season in the Baltic Sea.

The rest of the calls are transit calls, which means that the ships visit for the day, allowing the passengers to spend six or seven hours as tourists in Copenhagen. Cruise passengers' and crews' consumption has been estimated as DKK 825 million per annum.*

CMP is making extensive investments to develop cruise traffic. A new cruise quay will allow 500 calls a year from the start of 2014. Three new state-of-the-art terminal buildings are also being built for the turnaround business.

"We are pleased to be able to contribute to the development of the tourist industry by creating the best possible conditions for cruise traffic," says Arnt Møller Pedersen.

Top six nations for cruise passengers in Copenhagen:

1. Germany (25%)
2. USA/Canada (22%)
3. United Kingdom (14%)
4. Italy (7%)
5. Spain (4%)
6. Australia (3%)

2013 was also the first cruise year with turnaround calls for Malmö, with the Spanish cruise operator Pullmantur's ship Empress calling ten times with just over 36,000 passengers.

Port Everglades welcomes Royal Princess

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 30 October 2013 30 October 2013

Port Everglades and public officials welcomed Princess Cruises’ new Royal Princess to the South Florida cruise port on Tuesday and presented Captain Tony Draper with traditional plaques and keys to Broward County and the Cities of Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood.

“We are honored that Princess Cruises has once again selected Port Everglades to homeport the line’s newest and most sophisticated cruise ship, Royal Princess,” Port Everglades Chief Executive & Port Director Steven Cernak told Captain Draper; Anthony Kaufman, Princess Cruises Senior Vice President of Commercial Affairs; and Steve Nielsen, Princess Cruises Vice President of Caribbean & Atlantic Shore Operations. “Princess has a long, successful history at Port Everglades and we look forward to welcoming Royal Princess in grand style.”

The new 141,000-ton, 3,600-passenger Royal Princess, the first of two new-generation ships for Princess built by Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard, made her U.S. debut this week at Port Everglades. Royal Princess will sail to the Eastern Caribbean every Sunday from Port Everglades through the end of April 2014.

Broward County Vice Mayor Barbara Sharief and Broward County Commissioners Chip LaMarca and Stacy Ritter presented Captain Draper with a key to Broward County along with City of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler and City of Hollywood Vice Mayor Richard Blattner who presented keys to their cities. In addition, Port Everglades Deputy Director Glenn Wiltshire presented the captain with the Port’s “challenge coin,” a customized medallion bearing emblems that represent the Port’s three main business lines – cruise, cargo and petroleum – and the Port’s landmark Harbormaster Tower.

“As we are all aware, the cruise industry is a major contributor to the economic health of our tourism-based community. Not only do cruise lines such as Princess bring jobs and revenue to our area, but they also bring guests who visit our hotels and resorts, and support the small businesses and attractions that are the lifeblood of our economy,” said Vice Mayor Sharief.

Other presenters included U.S. Coast Guard Captain Austin Gould, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Port Director Jorge Roig, Broward Sheriff’s Office Lt. Wally Haywood, Broward Sheriff’s Office Fire Rescue Chief Greg Holness, and Fernando Harb of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Port Everglades is one of the three busiest cruise ports in the world with nearly 4 million passengers expected in 2014, and more cruise ships than any cruise port worldwide. Eight cruise lines, one ferry and more than 40 cruise ships sail from the South Florida seaport including: Balearia’s Bahamas Express, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea Cruises and Seabourn. The Port's wide-ranging fleet of cruise ships provides guests with an array of cruise vacation choices from the sunny Greater Fort Lauderdale area. Port Everglades, where the best cruise ships launch and the greatest getaways begin.

Canaveral board green lights $80-$85 million cruise complex

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 08 November 2013 08 November 2013

In an unanimous vote, Port Canaveral Commissioners have approved building a new $80-$85 million cruise terminal and 1.000-vehicle parking facility that is scheduled to open in November 2014. The 185,000-square-foot terminal will be located on the south side of the harbor in the Cove restaurant and retail area.

"Couple this month's opening of the new Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral with the restaurants, retail, and entertainment currently available, then add in our plans for additional Cove expansion, and the passengers and crew who will sail from this new terminal will have destination options available for the first time within walking distance of their ship," said Port Canaveral CEO John E. Walsh. Cruise visitors will be able to walk outside the terminal to enjoy Port destination options or depart from the terminal and Exploration Tower to enjoy area excursions.

The new cruise terminal complex will handle the largest cruise ships currently sailing as well as the 6,000-passenger vessels in design. Construction is expected to begin in January. Announcements regarding the new terminal's tenants are expected soon.

"This is an exciting time as we expand our operations to meet the demands of our customers and the resulting jobs and economic impact for our community," said Tom Weinberg, chairman of the Canaveral Port Authority Commission. One home-ported cruise ship is expected to generate $250 million annual community impact and create 2500 direct and indirect jobs.

To accommodate the new terminal, the Board unanimously approved building a new, larger recreational boat ramp complex just west of Jetty Park at the channel's entrance to replace the current boat ramps at Freddie Patrick Park in the Cove.

Rostock records 22% rise in passenger numbers

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 29 October 2013 29 October 2013

The Port of Rostock in Germany enjoyed a 22% rise in cruise passenger numbers this year and 14% of all passengers that visited the port took an excursion to Berlin, Port of Rostock said in a statement

This year, 28 international shipping companies had 365,000 cruise tourists on board their holiday vessels, who accounted for an annual passenger volume of 730,000 in the port on river Warnow, an increase by 22% over the previous year's record of 300,000 guests.

Of the total of 365,000 cruise travellers the majority were Germans (120,000 passengers), followed by 74,000 Americans, 47,0000 British, 21,000 Spaniards, 19,000 Canadians, 12,000 Italians, 9,000 Australians and 63,0000 tourists from 142 other nations. The ships also carried just under 140,000 crew members from 126 countries, more than one third of whom also went on shore leave.

Three more port calls by cruise liners are expected in Warnemünde this year. The vessels Marco Polo, Black Watch and Boudicca are scheduled for a visit to the Baltic Sea spa of Rostock on 23 October, 27 November and 28 December.

These three ships conclude the most successful German cruise shipping season to date. "With then 198 port calls by 41 passenger vessels Warnemünde holds its own as Germany's most popular cruise port the third year running", explains Ulrich Bauermeister, managing director of Rostock Port Development Company (HERO). Warnemünde set new German records in the two previous years with 158 and 181 port calls by cruise liners.

"14% of all cruise guests in Warnemünde, that is around 50,000, went on a day trip to Berlin by train or coach this season", states Ulrich Bauermeister. "About 197,000 passengers set out to discover Warnemünde, Rostock or Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and 118,000 started or ended their cruise in the passenger port at the mouth of river Warnow."