Double capacity for Singapore's new cruise centre

SINGAPORE is to double its cruise handling capacity with a new terminal equipped to handle the largest passenger vessels in the world set for completion in 2010. The Singapore Tourist Board released details yesterday of the long awaited new cruise terminal at Marina South as the existing Singapore Cruise Centre struggles with size and capacity constraints.

A two-berth facility will be built at Marina South and has the capacity to handle ships carrying up to 5,500 passengers, and up to 220,000 gt and 360 metres in length. Unlike the existing Singapore Cruise Centre, there will be no height or turning circle restrictions.

The size of investment in the new terminal due to be ready in 2010 was not revealed. STB said that in the third quarter of the year, it would be appointing an operator for the new terminal. An STB spokeswoman said that the operator would most likely be chosen through a tender although details were yet to be decided. She confirmed that the operator will be chosen from a number of potential candidates.

The present terminal is operated by state-owned Singapore Cruise Centre. Malaysian owned Star Cruises has shown interest in the past of operating a second cruise terminal in Singapore, and was reported to have included a terminal in a joint bid with parent Genting for its bid for the Marina Bay integrated resort and casino eventually awarded to Vegas Sands.

Star Cruises dominates the cruising market out of Singapore. Height and turning circle restrictions at the current terminal mean that any of the largest ships calling in Singapore are forced to call at container terminals due to these limitations.

The current terminal is also facing congestion issues at peak times such as the weekend and the situation has grown serious enough that last year the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore agreed to put in place a contingency plan to berth cruise ships at anchorages as use tenders to bring the passengers to and from the shore.

Last year the cruise centre reported a passenger throughput of 943,000, up 10% year-on-year, and Singapore is targeting a passenger throughput of 1.6m by 2015.

Source