SINGAPORE Cruise Centre (SCC) has partnered five maritime players to form Asia’s first structured network of cruise resource suppliers, Cruise 360, which promises to help new and existing cruise lines achieve greater operational ease when they call at Singapore.
SCC CEO Christina Siaw said: “The purpose of Cruise 360 is to help cruise companies get in touch with vendors they need, and to make sure that all the services and support needed by the ship are lined up when it arrives in Singapore, so no time is wasted.”
Apart from SCC, Cruise 360’s first batch of members include cruise crew and crewing services supplier Magsaysay Maritime Corp; consumables and logistic solutions provider HMS Far East; Sembawang Shipyard, which has been repairing and refurbishing cruise ships since the 1970s; InterCruises Shoreside & Port Services, which specialises in shore excursions, tour arrangements, passenger check-ins and transfers; and Shell Marine Products.
Cruise 360 members have also pledged to offer perks to cruise operators who tap into the new resource network. These perks, which are usually only available to regular clients, include HMS’s waiver of the usual two-day advance order to provide cruise operators with same-day order and delivery, Intercruises’ concierge-style counter services at the pier for passengers, and Magsaysay’s new crew-handling processes.
Cruise 360 members are not required to pay a membership fee and competing suppliers can join the network. However, Siaw said vendors who wished to join Cruise 360 must “bring value” to cruise operators.
“Members must be of international standing and be best-in-class suppliers,” she said.
As the newly elected chairman of the Asian Cruise Terminal Association, SCC plans on introducing the Cruise 360 concept to member ports in the region, which will comprise the strongest vendors in the respective local markets.
Magsaysay president, Marlon Rono, told TTG Asia e-Daily that such trade partnerships would propel the company’s business forward and help shape Singapore into a cruise gateway to Asia.
“Some 30 to 40 per cent of Asian cruise crew turnover is handled by us, and being in this partnership will help us grow that pie,” Rono said. “At the same time, Magsaysay will raise Singapore’s current status as an important crewing city to one that is seen as the key crewing capital of Asia.”
