Cruise Europe new Members: Portland Port, Harlingen and Caen-Ouistreham
Portland Port lies in the heart of the Jurassic Coast, a Unesco world heritage site in the south west of England, UK. Harlingen is one of the oldest seaports in The Netherlands dating back to 1300. Caen-Ouistreham on the Manche Atlantique in France provides an opportunity for calls to the town centre of Caen as well as the sea resort of Ouistreham Riva-Bella.
PORTLAND
Over the last five years it has witnessed remarkable growth in its cruise business: receiving five calls and 1,800 passengers in 2011 and 24 and 36,223 passengers this year.
This increase is in great part due to the port taking on Ian McQuade as general manager (commercial) in 2007. It was at this time that he set about building relationships with all the cruiselines directly so that, as he explained, it is now an ongoing process of reminding them of Portland’s place on the cruise map. While believing that “you don’t generate business unless you do it yourself,” he feels the time is right to join Cruise Europe which will help take the business to the next level.
“I went to the Dublin Cruise Europe Conference last year as a guest to see how it works. There was a good mix of cruiselines and ports and it was a useful conference. It was good both for the content and the opportunity to talk with cruiseline executives. I was very impressed.”
Portland Port UK’s facilities are being tailored to be able to cater to further cruise growth. The main cruise berth, Outer Coaling Pier, is currently being extended in preparation for the 2017 season. This will allow vessels of 340m in length to come alongside, compared to the current maximum, which is 300m. When completed, the berth will boast a new suite of mooring bollards, high-capacity pneumatic floating fenders and a minimum water depth of 9.6m.
To further enhance the ports capabilities it is also looking to increase the draught to 10m, or even better to 10.5m, which would also benefit the cargo ships. The aim is to make a decision as to whether to go ahead or not by Seatrade Global in March in order for it to be taken into account in itinerary planning for 2019.
In terms of the passengers, the port has developed dedicated cruise facilities which were updated last year. In July 1999 The Britannia Passenger Terminal was officially opened by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh and, in 2005, it underwent extensive refurbishment.
A new passenger/luggage and visitor handling facility, The Cruise Terminal, has been created by converting a small warehouse at the entrance to Outer Coaling Pier. It comes complete with an electronic visitor management system, including X-ray, AMD, hand-searching and shore-to-ship liaison. This facility is designed to handle the turnaround of small cruise ships, such as Hebridean Princess, on the quayside. Larger vessels will continue to be turned around in the Britannia Terminal. There is no requirement for transit passengers to pass through either facility.
As it happens the first calls of the season take place on April 26 when Holland America Line’s Rotterdam will call the Outer Coaling Pier and Seabourn Quest the Deepwater Berth, which has a depth of 11.6m and can take ships up to 220m in length.
A big boost to the port this year is the fact that Disney Cruise Lines will call for the first time not once but twice (Disney Magic). This is not only good for the port’s profile but is creating a lot of local interest, explained McQuade.
Berth hire is strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a bunker operator based at the port, both dry and liquid waste can be handled at the full Marpol reception facility, and black and grey water can be offloaded by prior arrangement. There are three tugs, two of 50t-plus bollard pull each and one of 22t. Portland Port UK has its own pilots and pilot boats.
A complimentary shuttle bus service is provided to take passengers from the quay into the local town of Weymouth. For a day call, this service operates from the time the ship docks up until one hour before the ship is due to depart.
The port prides itself on its farewell to passengers, putting on a variety of acts on the quayside and concluding with a three-shot salute from the Nothe Fort Victorian Artillery Brigade.
There are two scheduled trains per hour between London and Weymouth but chartering a train is also an option. Access by air via London Heathrow is a little over two and half hours drive-time. Alternatively the regional airports at Bournemouth, Southampton, Exeter and Bristol are all within two hours of the port offering domestic and European connections.
When it comes to shore excursions the Jurassic Coast is known for its breathtaking beauty and its incredible historical heritage. Local attractions stretch from Stonehenge to Corfe Castle, from Bovington Tank Museum to Monkey World, with towns such as Bath, Salisbury, Dorchester and Weymouth in between.
Local annual events include the Dorset Knob Throwing & Frome Valley Food Festival, the Lyme Regis Jazz and Blues Festival and the Dorset Food Festival.
HARLINGEN
It is one of the oldest seaports in The Netherlands dating back to 1300. The Dutch city of canals, warehouses and old inner harbours received its first call in 2014 (National Geographic Explorer) and is now gearing up for more.
Last year there were two calls: newcomer to the port 126-passenger National Geographic Orion and 122-passenger Corinthian. This year Ponant’s Le Soleal will call for the first time while, in 2018, sistership Le Laperouse will visit. Noble Caledonia’s Island Sky will also be a first-timer.
At present ships of up to 160m can call Harlingen, just walking distance from the old city centre. Larger vessels can anchor in the Wadden Sea. A 30-minute transfer by fast ferry can be provided to Harlingen from the tender pier which is 15nm from the Vlieree anchorage.
A new floating quay has been approved and is due to enter service in Willemshaven in January 2018, explained Kathe Kuperus, managing director Cruise Port Harlingen. It will be 180m in length, have a depth of 6m and bollards will be installed. On the same site is a 35m by 24m passenger terminal which has been refurbished to include a tourist information desk and toilets. WiFi is being expanded in the near future.
Pilot pickup is 24nm from Willemshaven. The use of tugs is compulsory with three being available 24 hours a day. Waste discharge facilities are available on request. Garbage removal is compulsory, freshwater facilities are available and are provided by the port authority. Bunkering is available by barge or truck. Due to the tides there is year-round dredging of the harbour and harbour entrance. Harlingen is 75 minutes drive from Amsterdam International Airport.
Passengers can enjoy a wide range of shore excursions from the natural to the historical. In the city itself, passengers can visit the Harlingen Earthenware and Tile Factory which still produces handmade earthenware and tiles using the same methods that were used in 1598. The 16th century merchant house, Hannemahuis, is now a museum telling the story of the city and includes a distillery which makes Dutch gin as it did 250 years ago. Franeker houses the oldest active planetarium in the world built by Eise Eisinga in 1774.
To discover more about the Dutch battle against the water, the 1920 Woudagemaal steam pumping station on the Unesco World Heritage List is just 30 minutes drive away. Horselovers may want to visit stud farm Het Swarte Paert where the culture, history, breeding and sports of the Frisian horse which has its roots in the area.
Last but by no means least the nearby 12,000km2 Wadden Area/nature reserve containing 43 islands and with wetlands stretching to Denmark was designated a Unesco world heritage site in 2009. Looking ahead Harlingen will once again be hosting the Tall Ships event in 2018.
CAEN-OUISTREHAM
Caen-Ouistreham on the Manche Atlantique in France provides an opportunity for calls to the town centre of Caen as well as the sea resort of Ouistreham Riva-Bella. Lindblad Expeditions, Silversea Cruises and Ponant are regular visitors but talks are taking place with companies such as Saga, Hapag-Lloyd and Noble Caledonia.
Smaller ships can sail into the city centre to the Gaston Lamy quay: 400m long and a depth of 6.5m. However, due to the locks and bridges on the canal, ships with a beam of more than 22m, and more than about 160m in length, will be moored at the 625m-long Blainville Quay, which has a depth of 9m.
At present there are about seven calls a year to the centre town berths. A temporary tent is put in place for welcoming passengers but should the call numbers increase, a more permanent structure will be considered, according to Jerome Chauvet, business development manager Ports of Normandy Authority.
Tourist information is provided and a space for local products is being considered. Port facilities include pilotage, towing, mooring, three turning areas, 24 hour ship service, waste reception, bunkering possibilities and ISPS conformity.
Ouistreham is 15km from Caen city centre which is about 15 minutes by bus. Shuttle buses can be provided.
The locks are open 18 hours/day on average and separate the ferry terminal from the port upstream. The 90-minute journey from the canal to the sea and Caen gives passengers a taste of the land’s history and sights including D-Day beaches, Chateau de Benouville and Pegasus bridge. The canal has the advantage of being a constant waterway which makes loading and offloading passengers easier. There’s also a variety of secure and mostly enclosed terminals which means more cruiseships can stop here.
The port has made investments to improve its cruiseship arrival services: tunnels, red carpet, storage facility, reception desk, mobile plant pots throughout the port.
Local port and tourism companies have founded Caen-Ouistreham Normandy Cruise to take cruise passenger services to another level, to work and invest to meet companies’ needs and to ensure visitors experience the best of tourism in Normandy.
The local highlights are based in three distinct areas: the buzzing Riva Bella beach resort, the old town and the port with its daily fish market. Being in the heart of Normandy makes this a natural base to go out and explore places such as Falaise, Alencon to the south, Bayeux, Cherbourg, Mont Saint Michel to the west, Cabourg, Deauville-Trouville, Rouen and Giverny to the east.
Caen itself has gems such as the 11th century Abbaye aux Hommes founded by William the Conqueror and the Abbaye aux Dames built by his wife Matilda. There are also opportunities to, for example, visit a Calvados distillery, explore amazing gardens, cycle on the banks of the Orne or take a cookery or lacemaking lesson.
