Copenhagen City Council has given the go-ahead for a new cruiseship quay for completion in time for the 2013 season.
“The new quay will be 1,100m long and 70m wide. This will enable flexible terminals and support facilities for passenger service. At the same time, the solutions for cars, buses and taxi service will become more efficient,” says Arnt Moller Pedersen, head of cruiseship operations at Copenhagen Malmo Port (CMP). The quay will also be fitted with waste water reception facilities and be prepared for cold ironing.
CMP’s main shareholder, CPH City & Port Development, are investing the DKK350m (E47m) needed for the project. With cruise traffic in 2009 up on 2008 by 10% to 335 calls and 677,000 passengers, despite a general decline in tourism in Denmark, the timing could not be better. “About half our cruiseship arrivals were so-called turnarounds, which on average brought in SEK1,600 [E164] per passenger for the local tourism trade. This can be compared to transit passengers who contribute with about a third of this amount,” explains Mr Pedersen.
For 2010 the port is expecting 305 calls and 670,000 passengers with 2011 looking as though it will reach an “all-time high” he says, adding: “We already have 300 booked now which is a new record for bookings received at this time of the year.”
Detailed planning can now be carried out for the new quay and the filling in of the 245 acre area in the Nordhavnen harbour district where a container terminal can also be constructed.
