Press-release “10 years of activities of Passenger Port of Saint Petersburg”
09 September 2018
On September 10, 2018, Passenger Port of Saint Petersburg (hereinafter Port) received the first in its history vessel, Costa Mediterranea, which became the starting point of activities of the first and only specialized passenger port in the North-West region of Russia.
During 10 years,
"Passenger Port of Saint Petersburg "Marine Façade" PLC (hereinafter PP SPb MF, PLC) has remained the operator of the port located in Saint Petersburg, in aggradation territories of Vasilyevsky Island.
Site plan and design of the port was developed by Bermello Ajamil & Partners Inc., an American company well-known in the field of architecture, engineering, planning and construction (B&A). The company selected techno design for the port. Clear and strict lines of terminals highlight graceful and elegant snow-white cruise liners.
Port infrastructure includes seven modern docks with a total length of 2,171 m, two of them being equipped for receiving both cruise and ferry vessels. The port is capable of receiving major ocean liners up to 340 meters long.
Since the start of Port operation in 2008, cruise passenger traffic in Saint Petersburg has increased twice; more than 2.5 thousand ships have called the port, and the total passenger traffic has exceeded 4.5 million persons. Port construction was started in 2005 and already in three years the Port received the first vessel with passengers on board.
Such remarkable results are first of all associated with the sustained growth of foreigners in Saint Petersburg, which has been more than once awarded World Travel Awards, the most prestigious global prize in tourism industry. In 2009, Passenger Port of Saint Petersburg was recognized the best “Transit port of the year” according to Seatrade Insider, and in 2010 it won the prize in the nomination “Most Improved Port Facilities” according to Dream World Cruise Destinations. This year, Saint Petersburg won recognition of Travelers' Choice Awards 2018, and it was the first time the Committee for Tourism development of Saint Petersburg Administration has been in the short-list of nominees for Europe's Leading City Tourist Board 2018 nomination.
Passenger Port of Saint Petersburg belongs to some credible professional communities, like Ports Association, Cruise line international association, Cruise Europe, and is sufficiently involved in the activities of the global cruise market, visiting international exhibitions and conferences every year. In 2018, the Port hosted International conference Cruise Europe, which was held in Russia for the first time. More than 120 persons from 30 countries took part in the conference.
Now the port has concluded contracts with the leading international companies, including Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean & Celebrity Cruises, Mediterranean Shipping Company and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
Cruise liner Norwegian Breakaway, one of the most capacious liners ever coming to the Port, belonging to Norwegian Cruise Line company, called the Passenger Port of Saint Petersburg for the first time on May 15. Last year, twin-vessel Norwegian Getaway updated the achievement of Port, having brought almost 4000 persons on board to Saint Petersburg. The interest of cruise line in Saint Petersburg grows every year, and due to the effective cooperation, Norwegian Cruise Line is planning entries of its three liners Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Spirit and Norwegian Pear to the Passenger Port of Saint Petersburg next year.
The relationship between the Passenger Port of Saint Petersburg and Norwegian Cruise Line company has overgrown from business to friendly one. Norwegian Cruise Line contribution made it possible to hold entertainment part of the event dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Port operation on board of the above cruise liner Norwegian Breakaway, which enters the Port for the 14th time this year on September 09-10.
263 calls and almost 600,000 passengers are expected during 2018 navigation season that will last till the mid of October, which is the best achievement in the port history.
Throughout the Port history, special attention was paid to development issues. A number of measures regarding refurbishment of access point in the sea port are already in progress in order to establish year-round ferry traffic with a possibility to use the infrastructure of the sea terminal and access point to perform operations related to the receipt of freight vehicles carried by ferries.
Apart from that, PP SPb MF, PLC takes part in the development of legislative initiatives aimed at the extension of 72-hour visa-free regime for the citizens coming to the RF in other vehicles, but planning to have a sea cruise with boarding in Saint Petersburg.
One more central joint task of the City Government and the Port is complete year-round loading of infrastructure. To execute this task, the development of regional passenger operator concept was started in 2017. The establishment of sea passenger shipping company will allow to increase cruise passenger traffic in our city, including RF citizens leaving for a cruise from Saint Petersburg. Project implementation will contribute to the execution of the President's assignments based on the results of the State council presidium concerning the development of incoming tourism, held on August 17, 2015.
Taking into account growing capacity of cruise liners and increase of their dimensions, PP SPb MF, PLC is implementing the project on refurbishment of No. 7 dock of the Passenger Port of Saint Petersburg by constructing remote mooring posts, which will allow to extend the length of the waterside by 108 m and moor two ships of more than 330 m long at a time at No.6 and No. 7 docks.
As part of extension of the list of provided services and social activities, PP SPb MF, PLC is implementing construction project for multi-purpose sports center, which will allow both PP SPb MF, PLC employees and dwellers of Vasilyevsky Island to be actively involved in joint drills, exhibition matches and other contests in different sport tournaments.
It’s worth noting, that apart from its principal activity, PP SPb MF, PLC is involved in the arrangement of multiple public, social and sports events. In 2018, as in previous years, the Port territory becomes once again the venue for the traditional sports event “Sea Mile”, which has been included into the list of public events of the city since this year and is held on September, 21. Also, the Port will once again host New Year Festival with the largest ice rink in the city, the matriculation ceremony for the students of Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping, educational festival “Safe Childhood” and other interesting events.
The final entry in this navigation season is expected on October 17, when cruise liner AIDAbella belonging to AIDA company will call the Passenger Port of Saint Petersburg.
PP SPb MF, PLC
