UK port handles turnaround visit from Cruise & Maritime Voyages' ship ahead of 2015 cruise season
By
Rebecca Gibson |
The UK’s Portland Port handled an unexpected cruise call from Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ Azores at the end of February.
Azores, which was due to call at a different port, had to alter her itinerary at the last minute due to adverse weather. Portland Port, local stevedoring company Paisley Plant Hire and Southampton-based SCH worked together to facilitate the unexpected turnaround, processing 840 passengers and 60 tonnes of stores during the nine-hour call.
“It was a great effort by all concerned and we were delighted to be able to help Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ passengers on their way to see the Northern Lights,” said Ian McQuade, general commercial manager at Portland Port. “We do not handle many turnaround calls here at Portland Port but this proves, even at short notice, what we can do.”
Originally, Portland’s 2015 cruise season was due to open with an inaugural call from Royal Caribbean International’s Serenade of the Seas on 5 March. Other maiden calls this year include AIDA Cruises’ AIDAbella and Costa Cruises’ Costa Luminosa. In addition, Norwegian Star will make Norwegian Cruise Line’s first-ever visit to the port in September. During her transit call, the ship will bring a record 2,350 passengers to the port.
Portland is scheduled to handle 26,000 passengers, an increase of 5% from 2014. This marks the fourth consecutive year the port has recorded a rise in passengers.