Topic: Southampton cruise boss admits Liverpool is better destination

The following article is from the Liverpool Echo...

THE boss of Southampton docks has conceded that rival port Liverpool is streets ahead as a cruise ship embarkation point.

Peter Jones, speaking about the city's world-renowned waterfront, said: "There is no other port in the country that can offer a cruise facility of anything like that quality."

Admittedly, the chief executive of Associated British Ports (ABP) made his remarks when he was in a similarly lofty position at Mersey Docks.

Which may be the reason he has personally remained publicly silent on the bitter row between the two ports over Liverpool's plan to convert its landing-stage into a turnaround facility enabling passengers to join and leave cruise ships.

ABP argues this is an abuse of State Aid as European money helped create the current £19m facility. Mr Jones declined to comment on his previous remarks. His PR department issued a terse statement: "Associated British Ports is opposed in principle to the use of public funds which distorts competition in the ports sector. ABP has responded to the Department for Transport’s consultation process on this matter"

Mr Jones spent several years heading Mersey Docks before the takeover by Peel. He was supportive of developments to attract cruise ships and before leaving his post in 2006 said: "Mooring a liner in front of the Three Graces would be a magnificent sight.

“There is no other port in the country that can offer a cruise facility of anything like that quality."

Last week Southampton won runner up in Seatrade's annual Turnaround Port awards when ABP director Doug Morrison had another dig at Liverpool, saying: “Over the past few years and without any help from the Government or European grants, ABP has invested £41m on our cruise terminals.”

ABP fears it will lose a major slice of business if Liverpool gains customs facilities at the Pier Head Cruise terminal.

The Department for Transport is currently considering whether to relax rules to allow a full "turnaround" facility to be created at the terminal.

It has written to all the major ports in the UK asking for their opinions.

A spokesman said: “The responses are being considered before any decision is made”.

The thinking appears to be that if other port operators are happy to see Liverpool expand facilities the plans are more likely to get the go-ahead.

Meanwhile the Queen Mary 2’s maiden call to the city is to take place on October 20 and will be a highlight in a week-long, round UK cruise to mark the luxurious liner’s first five years in service.

The visit of the 151,000 ton vessel is expected to attract thousands of spectators to the banks of the River Mersey. QM2 is the largest, longest, widest, tallest and – at more than £400m – the most expensive ocean liner ever built.

My God the QE2 coming to Liverpool, what will all you Southerners think, Well it is coming to the place that this fine ship should be in, The Capital Of Culture..

Firstly Mr. Swinton shall we get the name of the ship right,its the Queen Mary 2 you will be seeing ,the largest & busiest cruise port in the country,Southampton ,gave a more than rousing and found farewell to the Q.E.2 last November.
I think this stupid arguement is getting a little childish.Southampton is this countries premier cruise port for very good reasons ,it has the capacity,the facilities,the geographical location and the experience.It has to be somewhere and it just happens to be Southampton.Its a fact so lets live with it.The Worlds largest cruise operator obviously is ,having invested millions there.
This is not to say cruise ships cannot call elsewhere,as with in the great days of ocean
liners but there has to be a focal point it makes economic sense.If the cruise companies can make money out of ports elsewhere such as Liverpool they surely will.
A word of warning to Southampton though,their experience and facilities are superb,I know I have experienced them several times,but those facilities should not be allowed to slip(the Q.E.2 Terminal is in dire need of a makeover) and their waterfront,potentially a superb facility for the City is very scruffy.Other cities ,including Liverpool and near neighbour Portsmouth are making the very most of theirs.Southampton yours is a mess and its all owned by ABP!

I think this stupid arguement is getting a little childish.Southampton is this countries premier cruise port for very good reasons ,it has the capacity,the facilities,the geographical location and the experience.It has to be somewhere and it just happens to be Southampton.Its a fact so lets live with it.The Worlds largest cruise operator obviously is ,having invested millions there.
This is not to say cruise ships cannot call elsewhere,as with in the great days of ocean
liners but there has to be a focal point it makes economic sense.If the cruise companies can make money out of ports elsewhere such as Liverpool they surely will.
A word of warning to Southampton though,their experience and facilities are superb,I know I have experienced them several times,but those facilities should not be allowed to slip(the Q.E.2 Terminal is in dire need of a makeover) and their waterfront,potentially a superb facility for the City is very scruffy.Other cities ,including Liverpool and near neighbour Portsmouth are making the very most of theirs.Southampton yours is a mess and its all owned by ABP!

Could not agree more. Well said.

Surely there is room for another major port for cruises? If not Liverpool somewhere else in the north. The cruise industry is expanding all the time, passengers are electing to travel from British ports to avoid the misery of airport travel. It is a fact surely that more ships leaving to more destinations from more ports equals happier passengers, cruise companies and ports?

I am biased in favour of Liverpool because I know the city and its strengths and qualities, but other northern ports would be equally appealing to me.

I will not be critical of Southampton because the only negative about this port is its distance from my home. We have always found it to be a clean and organised port, yes there are usually traffic delays but we build these into our journey time and traffic delays happen in any busy city area.

Liverpool was the gateway to the New World.
Cunard, White Star and many other Shipping Lines originated or were based in Liverpool.
The city's history and culture developed because of the Port.
Indeed the waterfront at Liverpool is recognised accross the 7 seas by most mariners.
Today with the growth in the cruise industry it is rediculous that anyone is objecting to Liverpool being given this status. In fact the Custome House at the Pier Head is a listed Building and HM Customs has its VAT office at Kings Dock.
Imagine Heathrow being the only Airport in the Country, its daft.
So get real Southampton Liverpool is Premier League.

The problem would be the parking costs. If you go to a Liverpool match the local gangs will charge you £5 for them to "MIND" your car, just think how much they would try and extort from you on a round the world cruise for car “MINDING”

To cruiser, Chippenham. you are an epitome of selfishness. How about the people from the northern half of the UK who have to travel many miles to a cruise terminal which can take the larger ships.

QUOTE:

The problem would be the parking costs. If you go to a Liverpool match the local gangs will charge you £5 for them to "MIND" your car, just think how much they would try and extort from you on a round the world cruise for car “MINDING”

Oh my, Peter, that has reminded me of my childhood (late 60s) when I used to 'mind' the cars of football fans who parked in my street (I lived in Hazelhurst Rd, local to both Liverpool and Everton FC) - just for a new pence, and I actually took my job very seriously and did indeed 'look after' 'my' cars. Us kids loved match days because we could make sweetie money:D. The drivers would come back after the match and if their team won, we got extra hehehe.