Ports & destinations

Record breaking year for Portland Port

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 19 August 2013 19 August 2013

The cruise season at Portland Port continues in record breaking style. At the beginning of the month the port welcome the AIDAstella in for the final time this year. She was carrying 2,567 passengers on board as she came alongside, a figure that has set a new record for Portland Port and a target to break in future seasons as the port continues to develop its cruise offering and continues to develop within the cruise market as a whole.

Weymouth and Portland continues to be a popular resort amongst cruise passengers and we at Portland Port always enjoy the stories of kindness and compliments that come back to us from passengers and cruise ships alike.

"We ensure to add extra value to the already fond memories of visitors to the towns by providing a variety of entertainment to wave the ships which is always popular, so far this season we have seen the Nothe Artillery Volunteers, a Ukulele Duo and a variety of choirs and concert bands too. This ensures we stand out from other ports and make a lasting impression in all those who visit the Isle," the port said in a statement.

Helen Rewse, leader of the Wyke Regis junior’s choir, commented: "We all thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience; the staff at the port treated us like VIPs, the passengers seemed to love our performance and there was great excitement as the cannon was fired and the ship left the port. We'd definitely do it again!"

Ian McQuade, General Manager Business Development at Portland Port, added "We have been delighted with the way the 2013 cruise season is panning out. The feedback from both cruise lines and their guests has been very positive and gives us great encouragement for the future."

This is not the end of the season at Portland Port; "We recommend that you keep a keen eye on the breakwaters until the end of September for some more remarkable ships breaking the horizon."

Piraeus records 11.7% rise in passenger volume January-July

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 19 August 2013 19 August 2013

The Port of Piraeus in Greece says it enjoyed an increase 11.7% in the number of cruise passengers in the first seven months of the year compared to the same period last year.

Tabona appointed chairman of Valletta Cruise Port

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 08 August 2013 08 August 2013

Joseph Zammit Tabona has been appointed chairman of Valletta Cruise Port plc. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Zammit Tabona served as Malta’s Commissioner for the United Kingdom and Ireland. Mr Zammit Tabona had served as Chairman of Valletta Cruise Port between 2007 and 2009, the company said in a statement.

In a career spanning more than forty years, Joseph Zammit Tabona was appointed on a number of boards of private and public companies. He was Chairman of the Malta Stock Exchange, Finance Malta, the Malta Accountancy Board, the Malta Development Corporation, the Malta External Trade Corporation, the Institute for the Promotion of Small Enterprises and that of Malta Enterprise.

He also held directorships in Bank of Valletta, the Malta Council for Arts, Science and Technology and HSBC Life Assurance (Malta) Limited. He also served as President of the Malta Federations of Industry. In August this year, Mr Zammit Tabona, was appointed as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Investment Promotion.

Senior management changes at Intercruises North America & Caribbean

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

Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services, an experienced global business offering first class ground handling and port agency services to the ocean and river cruise industry, has announced senior management changes to its North America & Caribbean region.

After two years leading the Intercruises North America & Caribbean team, Kevin O’Connor, President Intercruises North America & Caribbean, is leaving to pursue other opportunities, handing over his responsibilities with immediate effect. Kevin joined Intercruises following the acquisition of TMS Gateway and TMS Anchor in 2011, leading the integration of the East and West coast businesses to develop an Intercruises team capable of delivering services at all the main ports across North America.

Celeste Gladstone, Intercruises VP Client Relationships, will take additional responsibilities for the North America & Caribbean region, including the running of the day to day operations. Celeste is very familiar with the Intercruises teams and ports across North America, having previously held the role of President Intercruises North America & Caribbean. Celeste has over 25 years of experience in the cruise industry and helped develop Intercruises’ and the cruise industry’s growth in North America & the Caribbean.

“I would like to thank Kevin for his commitment to Intercruises over the last two years and wish him lots of success for the future. I would also like to wish Celeste all the best in her expanded role at Intercruises,” Said Mark Robinson, Intercruises Managing Director.

St Petersburg records 24% rise in passenger count in first half of 2013

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 31 July 2013 31 July 2013

In the first six months of the 2013 cruising season, the Passenger Port of St.Petersburg “Marine Façade” recorded a total of 192,567, an increase in passenger numbers of 24.1% compared to the same six months last year, the port said in a statement.

By end of June, the port had received 102 ships compared to 86 last year. For the whole 2013 year “Marine Façade” is expecting 259 calls bringing in 504,000 passengers. However port’s total capacity is 2 million cruise and ferry passengers per year.

The main reason for under utilisation of the capacity is a relatively short Baltic cruise season, which lasts just five months – from May to September.