Ports & destinations

Port Everglades receives its first LEED certification

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 29 September 2015 29 September 2015

Broward County's Port Everglades received its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for Cruise Terminal 4, which underwent many energy-efficient improvements when it was expanded and completely renovated over the past year.

LEED, a U.S. Green Building Council program, is a certification that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. To receive LEED certification, building projects must satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve certification.

Construction features that made the terminal eligible for LEED certification include:

– Recycled concrete and asphalt used in the building's construction
– Low-water usage toilets/urinals and fixtures
– Energy-efficient lighting inside and outside as well as the use of natural lighting within the terminal
– Energy-efficient air conditioning and windows
– Remote control of the lighting and air conditioning systems, which is part of the Port's overall energy management program
– Use of Regional materials manufactured within 500 miles of the Port
– Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) products used for paints, coating, flooring and adhesives

"We decided to renovate Cruise Terminal 4 specifically to comply with LEED guidelines because the certification is widely recognized and it supports Broward County's sustainability efforts to make buildings more energy efficient and invest in renewable and alternative energy technologies," said Steven Cernak, Port Everglades Chief Executive & Port Director.

Port Everglades also has a port-wide energy management program that includes most of the Broward County-owned buildings and facilities, so many of the Port's other cruise terminals are also 'energy efficient' buildings.

Port Everglades recently became the first deep-water port in Florida to join Green Marine, an environmental certification program for the North American marine industry. This environmental program makes it possible for ports, terminal operators, and shipping companies to voluntarily reduce their environmental footprint through a comprehensive program that addresses key environmental issues and criteria using eleven performance indicators.

MedCruise to convene in Olbia this October

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 29 September 2015 29 September 2015

The 47th MedCruise General Assembly will take place in Olbia, North Sardinia, Italy, 14-17 October 2015.

More than 100 cruise industry professionals and port executives will be gathered in Olbia to discuss the latest developments in the sector, and also the implications and prospects of cruising in the Med and its adjoining seas.

Among the topics to be discussed during the GA sessions are the current state of the cruise industry, the ways to effectively promote the Med in new markets and China, the latest output of the Pan-European Dialogue between cruise operators, ports and coastal tourism stakeholders, as well as the progress of the Travel Agent Project currently run by CLIA Europe and MedCruise.

In line with the MedCruise tradition, all port and associate members will have a first class opportunity to attend interactive Workshops with cruise line executives, and also enjoy in total five hours of B2B meetings with cruise line and international press representatives.

During the Workshops MedCruise members along with our esteemed cruise line guests will discuss best practices to ‘Manage Activities in the Port’, define ways to optimise ‘Relations with other Actors’ and also suggest ‘Policies to Promote Cruising’ in the region.

Heraklion port wins bronze in Hellenic Responsible Business awards

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 22 September 2015 22 September 2015

The Heraklion Port Authority has been awarded bronze medal in Hellenic Responsible Business awards, which aim to highlight and reward good practices, innovative initiatives and projects, examples of excellence in innovative models of cooperation and constant commitment fulfilling sustainability objectives, the port said in a statement.

The winning nomination submitted to the contest was titled: "Making the city of Heraklion important cruise destination in the Eastern Mediterranean in cooperation with all relevant stakeholders."

Ioannis Bras, Chairman and Managing Director of Heraklion Port Authority, the main instigator of the "model of five senses" on which the Management’s strategic plan for cruise sector is based,
received the award for the successful implementation of the system that allows the Culture and Agriculture to be combined with Tourism.

Within the framework of the five senses model implementation, Heraklion Port Authority’s Management organises events to welcome cruise ships in Heraklion in an attempt to promote the destination and Cretan hospitality.

"On Sunday 13 September the port planned a very special day for the passengers of Celestyal Olympia, Celestyal Odyssey and Aida Stella with approximately 5.200 guests and 1.500 crew members. Guests enjoyed once again live presentation of Greek and Cretan cuisine, carving exhibition of fruits and vegetables and interactive cooking classes to teach the recipe of the Cretan traditional salad," the port said.

Over half a million cruise tourists for Cartagena de Indias

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 29 September 2015 29 September 2015

Alan Lam reporting

Cartagena de Indias, Colombia’s number one cruise port, is expecting half a million cruise tourists during the current 2015-16 season, which started on 7 September, according to its regional port authority, Sociedad Portuaria Regional.

The port is expecting 529,556 cruise visitors, about 25,000 more than the previous season, with 212 calls by 36 cruise lines, making the industry as the biggest net contributor of tourists to the city.

The German-speaking brand TUI Cruises has included Cartagena in its itineraries for the first time, with 10 calls during the season and each of which will bring in about 2,500 passengers.

Despite this increase, Alfonso Salas, the General Manager of Sociedad Portuaria Regional, told the press that Cartagena aimed to achieve one million cruise tourists within two years.

Sandra Howard, Colombia’s incumbent Deputy Minister of Tourism underscored this goal set by the port authority. She stressed that Cartagena had everything in terms of attractions to compete with other destinations, but it needed to improve its infrastructure. She added that “important investments in respect to the competitiveness of the destination” were being made.

While reaching the one-million milestone in two years might appear to be a tall order under normal circumstances, we believe Cartagena will benefit enormously with the opening up of Cuba, as more ships are deployed to the region.

Cartagena’s attraction is beyond doubt; it is the most iconic city of South America’s Caribbean coast. Even during Colombia’s violent years the flow of tourists did not stop; they came from far and wide, by land, sea and air to admire this colonial walled city and fortress, which were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

August 'hat trick' for the island of Gozo

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 02 September 2015 02 September 2015

On the 16th August the island of Gozo welcomed the P&O Oriana. This was a landmark call as not only was it Oriana’s maiden call to Gozo but this was also P&O’s first ever call to Gozo. And furthermore, this was the first time that a cruise ship called exclusively to Gozo. Out of 1,800 passengers on board, more than 1,500 disembarked on shore excursions and independently.

On the 28th August Hapag Lloyd’s flagship, Europa 2 weighed anchor in the same spot just between the island of Gozo and the island of Comino, famous for its magical Blue Lagoon. Guests reported that they thoroughly enjoyed their Gozo experience. In the afternoon the children onboard where treated to banana rides on the ship’s zodiacs, one of which was captained by the Master of the ship himself.

To mark this occasion the Minister for Gozo, the Hon Anton Refalo accompanied by Ms Refalo, Ms Esther Bajada, Director of Tourism & Economic Development (Ministry for Gozo) and his P.R. Assistant Ms Marthese Attard were invited onboard to meet with the Master, Captain Ulf Wolter.

The following day, the Seabourn Sojourn arrived on what was her 5th call of the season and the second in August. Seabourn have been calling on Gozo since April 2006 when Peter Cox, Itinerary Planning Director added Gozo for the first time on a Seabourn itinerary. After more trial calls to monitor passenger feedback which was consistently positive, Seabourn is now Gozo’s most frequent caller.

The Minister for Gozo expressed his satisfaction with the way that Gozo was attracting high-end cruise ships that dovetailed with Gozo strategy of attracting this particular niche market. He also personally thanked Ivan Mifsud, Managing Director of Mifsud Brothers Ltd. for his unrelenting support for Gozo.

Ms Esther Bajada added that “these calls were a huge success thanks to Gozo’s allure and to the holistic approach by stakeholders to make each call special, as well as to the warm welcome offered to disembarking passengers in Gozo.”