Drawing on 60 years of experience, ABP Marine Environmental Research (ABPmer) provides specialist marine environmental research and consultancy services.
UK Dredging (UKD) operates the largest British-owned dredging fleet and specialises in the provision of reliable and cost effective port maintenance dredging services.
ABP’s Port of Southampton broke more records in 2025 as it reinforced its position as the European leader for the cruise sector. The year saw its highest ever number of cruise calls and a record number of days when all five of the Port’s cruise terminals where utilised simultaneously – all testament to ABP’s consistent significant investment in cruise facilities and the experience of the Port team.
2025 also saw Southampton welcoming over three million cruise passengers to the port for a second year running.
Alastair Welch, Regional Director, said: “I’m delighted to see Southampton’s cruise sector continuing to thrive. We take great pride in ensuring vessels arrive on time and in allocating berths well in advance—often up to two years ahead. Much of this success comes from meticulous planning months before each call by our Marine and Cruise Operations Teams to deliver a seamless experience for our customers.
Alongside trusted partners such as Solent Stevedores, Carnival UK, SCH, CPS, Whitaker Tankers, and Veolia, we make sure ships depart safely and efficiently, equipped with everything they need for a successful voyage. In most cases, this means vessels leave on time, ready to deliver an enjoyable holiday for their passengers.”
The Port’s status as a cruise leader brings big economic benefits to the City of Southampton and the Solent. According to Carnival UK’s 2025 Economic Report, each cruise turning call contributes between £1.9 million and £2.5 million to the region, meaning over £1 billion of value from the Port of Southampton’s overall cruise activity — supporting jobs, tourism, and businesses across Hampshire.
ABP is particularly pleased that the Port of Southampton was named Best UK Departure Port at the Cruise Critic Awards – as voted by cruise passengers for the second year. This accolade reflects Southampton’s commitment to operational excellence, ensuring every passenger enjoys a seamless and memorable start to their holiday from the moment they arrive at the port.
One of the most valued aspects of the cruise critic feedback is the convenience of on-port car parking. ABParking provides secure parking at both the City and Horizon Cruise Terminals, with each car park just a short five-minute walk from the terminal — so passengers can begin their holiday almost immediately.
ABP’s dedicated team — from Cruise Managers and Marine Experts to Pilots, Maintenance Engineers, Project Engineers, and Shift Technicians — works seamlessly to ensure every cruise call has everything it needs for a smooth, efficient turnaround, ready to welcome new passengers aboard.
The expertise on the port means cruise ships continue to move even in adverse weather. With multiple storms impacting the south coast this year, the Port of Southampton maintained safe and efficient operations through proactive planning and teamwork. Early engagement with cruise lines allows for pre- and over-carry pilotage planning, meaning pilots can board at other ports in Europe and the UK.
Clive Thomas, Commercial Director at Solent Stevedores, said: “It’s been another great year for cruise in Southampton and we’re proud to be a key part of these industry-leading operations in the region. On the quayside for these cruise ships calls, Solent Stevedores alone handled 3.3m items of luggage in the year and handled 134,000 pallets of stores for the 2.5 million passengers we welcomed through the 449 ships we handled.
“Solent Stevedores has been working in partnership with ABP on award-winning cruise operations in Southampton for 15 years and we’re looking forward to another strong year in 2026.”
