Associated British Ports

NEW CRUISE TERMINAL MAKES A HAT TRICK FOR ABP SOUTHAMPTON
Associated British Ports� (ABP) Port of Southampton�s commitment to keep its �cruise crown� will be reaffirmed today (Thursday, 14 August) when the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mrs Mary Fagan, officially opens ABP�s third cruise terminal � the City Cruise Terminal, at 5.00pm this evening.

At a ceremony and reception hosted by Bo Lerenius, ABP�s Group Chief Executive, and Andrew Kent, ABP Port Director, Southampton, Mrs Fagan will open the facility � which takes its name from the city that meets and greets famous cruise liners from around the world � in front of assembled guests representing the cruising industry and Southampton�s port community.

Built at a cost of �1.5 million, the City Cruise Terminal is the latest in a series of investments made by ABP in its cruise business this year. Altogether, the port company has invested over �10 million to cater for the fast-growing UK cruise market, including the major reconstruction and refurbishment of the port�s existing cruise terminals � the Mayflower and Queen Elizabeth II.

The opening of the City Cruise Terminal comes at the height of another successful cruise season for the port, with nearly half-a-million passengers passing through its cruise terminals. Southampton will handle 214 cruise calls in 2003, a figure that has more than doubled in the last six years, and includes more inaugural cruise-ship visits than in any previous year.

Reflecting on the port�s continuing success, Bo Lerenius said:

�This year � with the major investment programme undertaken by ABP in our cruise terminals � marks a new chapter in the success story of Southampton as the UK�s number-one cruise port. History has shown that, since the beginning of cruise-ship travel, Southampton has proved itself as the port of choice for cruise operators and now, at the beginning of the 21st Century, ABP is committed to strengthening Southampton�s cruise reputation and position well into the future.�

Commenting on the new cruise terminal, Mrs Fagan said:

"The current success of the port owes much to the work that ABP has done in developing and maintaining the cruise trade in Southampton - an industry that supports thousands of jobs in Southampton and the local area. I am delighted that ABP has decided to name the new terminal - City Cruise Terminal; it is an excellent way to recognise the contribution made by the people of Southampton who live in and around the port. The terminal will, I am sure, be much appreciated by the passengers, and I congratulate all those involved in this splendid project."

Adjacent to the city�s public Mayflower Park, the City Cruise Terminal is set to become a prominent feature of the city�s waterfront. The Port Director, Andrew Kent, added:

�ABP�s Port of Southampton has always been synonymous with the great liners of the past and present. The city has a proud maritime heritage and that is why ABP wanted to honour the city and the people of Southampton by naming this terminal the City Cruise Terminal.�

The City Cruise Terminal, which will be capable of berthing the largest cruise ships in the world, has been constructed in response to demand from the port�s cruise customers and will provide much-needed additional capacity for the South Coast port. Fred Olsen, Saga Cruise Line and MyTravel will be among the cruise lines that will operate from the terminal.

14th August 2003

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