World cruise ports will be united

World cruise ports will be united

The major world cruise exhibition in Miami - Cruise Shipping Miami Trade Show and Conference - in addition to the numerous innovations in cruise ship building, routes and concepts can be considered a milestone for the cruise industry for at least one more reason. At the exhibition in Miami was announced establishment of the Global Coalition of Cruise Ports Associations.

Establishment of an international association of cruise ports was discussed in 2011. But then they failed to form a single center, which could take into account the interests of the world's cruise regions. However that meeting created the basement for a new coalition in 2012.

Currently the Coalition consists of six major cruise ports associations crucial for the regions’ industries. Among them is the association of Asian cruise terminals ACTON, cruise Alliance of Canada and New England, Baltic cruise Association, "Norwegian Cruises" Association, cruise ports of the U.S. West Coast and the MedCruise Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports.

From now on the interests of ports represented in the Coalition will be promoted in the market by joint efforts. Will be developed a general policy to unify many port procedures and allow active experience exchange among the participants of the new association. Improving of the port infrastructure, expansion of the port areas, participation of the leading cruise companies in investment projects - these issues for many cruise ports in the world now will find its support at the global level.

The new head of the Coalition was named during the meeting of the cruise port association directors in Miami. The current president of MedCruise Stavros Hatzakos became the president. Mr. Hatzakos is one of the most respected leaders of the cruise port industry. For a long time he was the head of one of the busiest cruise ports in the world - Piraeus in Greece. He is also a co-founder of ESPO - European Sea Ports Organization. Stavros Hatzakos was elected for the MedCruise director in autumn 2011.
In the near future will be developed Internet site of the Global Coalition of Cruise Ports Associations telling about the main organization goals.

Ilya Kalachev

Photo: Marcus Lenk

Date: 06/04/2012