Representatives of PP SPb MF, PLC at the Seatrade Cruise Global 2019 international cruise exhibition
15 April 2019
On 8-11 April 2019, the delegation of the Passenger port of St. Petersburg took part in the Seatrade Cruise Global, an annual specialized exhibition. The 35th anniversary exhibition returned from Fort Lauderdale to the renovated Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, Florida (USA). According to official sources, over 11 thousand people took part in the exhibition in 2019: 130 participating countries and more than 700 booths.
Visitors of the Passenger port of St. Petersburg booth received answers to questions about the city and the port, in particular, the potential of the city to receive and service modern cruise ships, as well as the presence of a unique opportunity for foreign citizens - a 72-hour visa-free stay in Russia for passengers of cruise and ferry ships. Visitors showed particular interest to the project on the reconstruction of the checkpoint in the framework of the South-East Finland – Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2014 – 2020.
As part of the international exhibition, a number of business meetings of the PP SPb MF, PLC management with representatives of leading cruise companies, associations and ports were held. During the talks with the Ports, the parties discussed prospects for further cooperation and development of the cruise industry in the Baltic Sea region and St. Petersburg. Representatives of cruise lines expressed full satisfaction with the quality of services provided in the Passenger Port of St. Petersburg, confirmed their intentions to increase production indicators in the medium term, discussed the possibility of organizing additional services for connecting cruise and ferry vessels to shore power supply and prospects for the alternative power development. The interest of cruise lines to the Baltic Sea region and St. Petersburg is constantly growing. This is evidenced by the initiatives of cruise lines for the calls of large vessels to the Passenger Port of St. Petersburg. Currently, negotiations are held with several cruise lines on berthing of ships with a passenger capacity of 6 thousand people starting in 2020.
As part of the exhibition, the Passenger Port of St. Petersburg was awarded the prestigious Cruise Insight magazine award for the high level of cruise ship service. Jury consisting of representatives of cruise lines chaired by Bruce Krumrine of Holland America Line, noted the initiative of the Port for introduction of a timeslot system, which allows to distribute the transport infrastructure load and to coordinate the flow of cruise ship passengers.
Also, representatives of the Passenger Port of St. Petersburg visited Royal Caribbean Cruises, a new cruise terminal located in the port of Miami. The delegation got acquainted with the infrastructure and the history of the new terminal, which was named Crown of Miami due to its architectural form. The terminal was opened in November 2018 and functions as a departure and arrival port of cruises for the largest cruise line vessels with a passenger capacity of more than 6 thousand people. Total area of the terminal is 170,000 square feet. The terminal design was developed by the world-famous British company Broadway Malyan. In the center of the design composition are the real-size screw propellers. On the walls of the terminal, there are TV screens in the form of waves, and for VIP passengers there is a closed waiting area with additional services. The port provides for a simplified procedure for the registration of passengers and luggage. The passport control procedure is implemented using Face ID technology, that is human face recognition system. During the visit to the Port, the parties exchanged operational experience. The best practices applied in the port of Miami can be used in creation of the cruise departure and arrival port on the basis of the Passenger port of St. Petersburg.
The next Seatrade Cruise Global will take place in April 2020.
