PORTS A Christmas concert in Wismar’s St George’s Church


The local Shanty Choir greets CMV’s Vasco da Gama


GERMANY


PHOTO: COLUMBUS CRUISE CENTER WISMAR Ruegen Island – here with the Birka


Stockholm approaching last August – is a varied and attractive destination


PHOTO: FÄHRHAFEN SASSNITZ GMBH Seabourn Ovation approaching Lübeck-Travemünde


PHOTO: FÄHRHAFEN SASSNITZ GMBH


Steinwerder and HafenCity will also be equipped with a respective plant.


Investments are also planned in Bremerhaven, Germany’s second North Sea hub, where the port operator, bremenports, is going to renew and upgrade Columbuskaje pier from the end of this year.


Cruise traffic, which is managed through Columbus Cruise Center Bremerhaven GmbH (CCCB), is going to continue without any compromises on quality while the construction work is underway, and is in fact expected to grow even further after a very successful 2019 season. 115 calls were handled last year compared to 109 in 2018, and the total number of passengers increased from 238,000 to 250,000, including 220,000 turnaround guests.


For this year, CCCB expects 124 calls but slightly fewer passengers in the region of 220,000, including a stable volume of 30,000 in transit. Bookings already received for 2021 and 2022 suggest these two years will bring the port up to about 300,000 cruise passengers.


CCCB has succeeded in establishing Bremerhaven as a port serving in particular medium-sized and smaller ships, offering individualised service and often shore experiences ‘off the beaten track’.


seatrade-cruise.com


PHOTO: KARL ERHARD VÖGELE / LÜBECKER HAFEN-GESELLSCHAFT MBH)


Highlights during 2020 include Sail 2020 from August 20-24 which will see visits of nine cruise ships, some of which serve as floating accommodation for the event.


Three ‘Christmas calls’ are scheduled for December.


CCCB’s successful cooperation with the Baltic port city of Wismar, branded as Columbus Cruise Center Wismar, continued during 2019 and has helped Wismar to develop sensibly into an ‘exclusive’ destination for smaller ships looking to give their guests a highly personalised port experience away from Germany’s hubs.


Seven calls carrying 4,700 guests were handled including Wismar’s maiden transit call of Astor, resulting in the port’s first-ever 700 turnaround passengers.


2020 will see a solid growth up to 14 calls carrying 7,000 guests, including two turnaround calls.


Wismar’s long-term strategy is focussing on quality rather than quantity: A voluntary ship length restriction of 240mtr (which could be increased to 260mtr in medium term) is intended to restrict cruise traffic to a volume capable for the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic centre of Wismar.


While Wismar accepts turnaround calls


(and Astor’s premiere last year received compliments from all parties involved), this segment will not be promoted actively.


The focus will, in contrast, remain on transit calls, as it is also reflected by the carefully planned infrastructure development underway.


Among others the UNESCO-compliant ISPS-fence (which could serve as an example for other ports), fresh water supply and grey water reception facilities are inaugurated, while the terminal building as the last step of Wismar’s cruise infrastructure development programme is going to be constructed during winter 2020/21.


Wismar will also welcome three Christmas calls, featuring among others exclusive concerts in St George’s Church as a highlight for passengers.


Also the ports of Mukran and Sassnitz City Harbour, located on Ruegen Island at the eastern tip of Germany’s Baltic coast and both under the management of Fährhafen Sassnitz, are facing a successful 2020 season.


Centered on welcoming small and medium- sized ships, they offer individualised service – for example performances of the Sassnitz Shanty Choir upon arrival or departure.


Seatrade Cruise Review 139


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