The rising Port of Aberdeen, on Scotland’s distant northeast coast, is attracting cruise ships in file numbers. Anticipating to set new cruise data in 2024, the port additionally predicts a gradual rise in ship arrivals in the course of the subsequent few years, as extra and bigger vessels name at its new South Harbour facility.
Aberdeen Predicts 100 Ship Calls Inside Three Years
Scotland’s Port of Aberdeen, situated on the mouth of the River Dee with quick access to the North Sea, is on observe to welcome 50 cruise ships and roughly 34,000 cruise passengers in 2024. The numbers symbolize a whopping 130% improve in ship arrivals in comparison with 2022, when 21 ships known as, and practically 20% over 2023, when a record-breaking 43 ships visited.
Port officers appeared farther forward in a report issued on February 2, 2024, and predicted that greater than 100 cruise ships will name at Aberdeen by 2027. If the numbers pan out, it means a monetary windfall for the area, since every port name represents £134 ($170) in native spending per cruise visitor. That interprets into £4.5 million ($5.7 million) for 2024 and would exceed £20 million ($25 million) in 2027.
The opening in spring 2023 of the port’s new South Harbour was a significant increase to the realm, since its deep water and expanded dock amenities allow it to accommodate many of the world’s cruise ship fleet. South Harbor’s capability is for ships as much as 985 toes lengthy, 148 toes vast and 35 toes deep. (For context, the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, is 1,196 toes lengthy.)
Earlier than South Harbour was constructed, Aberdeen’s North Harbour facility may accommodate ships solely as much as 558 toes lengthy.
“With South Harbour full, we’re absolutely targeted on consolidating and accelerating progress on this key sector. This will likely be largely pushed by rising the variety of bigger cruise ships visiting the area and we’re having constructive discussions with present and potential clients to safe this enterprise,” mentioned Bob Sanguinetti, CEO of the Port of Aberdeen.
“We’re assured that our world-class facility, coupled with the superb vacation spot, will place Aberdeen Metropolis and Aberdeenshire as one of many UK’s prime cruise locations,” Sanguinetti added.
In 2024, the port will take pleasure in visits from a number of giant cruise ships, equivalent to Costa Cruises’ Costa Favolosa, a 951-foot ship with a capability for 3,780 company and 1,000 crew. Different giant ships scheduled to name embody AIDA Cruises’ AIDAsol and AIDAdiva, each accommodating 2,500 company and 700 crew.
The port’s improve in cruise arrivals was a boon to native tour operators and companies within the Aberdeen space. In 2023, some native enterprise have been capable of broaden, such because the Aberdeen Whisky Store, which held whisky tasting occasions for cruise company.
Historic and spiritual websites additionally noticed many extra visits by cruise arrivals. St. Machar’s Cathedral, which dates from the twelfth century, noticed a 40% improve in guests due to cruise ship calls. That translated into 42,000 guests and a 50% spike in donations and present store gross sales.
Port’s Anticipated Progress Is a Workforce Effort
The Port of Aberdeen’s effort to considerably broaden its cruise enterprise has given rise to a regional initiative known as CruiseAberdeenshire, a collaboration between the Port of Aberdeen and the native tourism company VisitAberdeenshire. Different authorities businesses concerned in this system are Aberdeen Metropolis Council, Aberdeenshire Council, and VisitScotland.
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The teams are working collectively to arrange the area for the anticipated rise in cruise passengers and supply the tourism infrastructure that cruise company will anticipate.
“The expansion in requires 2024 is a vote of confidence in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire as an rising cruise vacation spot. VisitAberdeenshire is scaling up its work to reinforce the welcome supplied to passengers, the readiness of native suppliers and to safe extra enterprise from cruise operators and shore tour firms,” mentioned Chris Foy, CEO of VisitAberdennshire.
CruiseAberdeenshire will maintain public data periods for native companies and others concerned in port operations on February 21 and 28, 2024, on the South Harbor facility.
