Spanish port will extend cruise berth and introduce new passenger service this year
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Spain’s Port of Cartagena expects to host almost 200,000 passengers and 120 cruise calls in 2016, a significant rise from 2015.
Last year, the port welcomed more than 150,000 passengers during 108 cruise calls last year, a 9.5% increase from 2014.
To ensure it can cater to the growing numbers of passengers, the port authority is in the process of extending its cruise berth to a total of 700m in length.
On 1 January 2016, the port authority also approved the new ‘Port service for passengers’ initiative, which aims to optimise passenger flow at the cruise terminal. The service, which will be provided by an authorised partner, will ensure that passengers can seek assistance from easily identifiable staff, particularly if they have reduced mobility. The terminal will also be fitted with fences and safety signage tape.
In addition, the port authority has introduced a discounted pilotage rate and will continue to apply weighting coefficients to visiting vessels and passenger rates to ensure Cartagena is the ‘most inexpensive port’ in Spain.