Southampton plans a fifth cruise terminal

The Port welcomed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Mike Penning MP, for a tour of the port, during which Peter Jones, ABP chief executive, and Doug Morrison, port director at Southampton, described ABP’s plans and unveiled an artist’s impression of the proposed development.

The cruise industry has seen remarkable growth over the last ten years, driven by the increase in demand for cruise holidays starting and ending in the UK. As a direct result of this increase, ABP has, in recent years, invested over £41m in its cruise facilities, which has enabled the port to provide world class facilities which can cater for all sizes of cruise ships. The new terminal will be designed to accommodate the largest cruise vessels afloat and will be the result of a further £30m investment by ABP.

Mike Penning MP said, ‘I am delighted to get the opportunity to visit Southampton and see its cruise facilities first hand. Southampton has a long and proud maritime history and the new terminal plans that I have been shown today will not only provide a boost to the local and national economy, but will help ensure the city maintains its status in the maritime world for many more years to come.’

The Port of Southampton’s fifth cruise terminal follows Ocean Terminal, the fourth dedicated cruise terminal, which opened in May 2009 and has subsequently handled more than 800,000 passengers. The Port of Southampton Master Plan from 2009 foresaw the need for additional cruise terminal facilities in the Western Docks.