New and bigger ports are in the works in East Asia – TTG Asia checks them out
Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
Hong Kong | Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
Jeff Bent, managing director, Worldwide Cruise Terminals
What are the latest plans for expansion and development? Our retail shops, main restaurants and banqueting facilities, which opened in September 2014, now host some 20 events per month and cater to 4,000 people per day.
Later this year, the government will auction a plot for a 500-room hotel adjacent to the cruise terminal. We expect work to begin on a new dual two-lane road.
What’s the passenger volume and growth in 2014, as well as expected figures in 2015?The passenger throughput is expected to grow from 100,000 in 2014 to 220,000 in 2015. The figure may even grow to 310,000 in 2016.
What’s the number of ships calling and homeporting in 2015 and 2014? Are there any new ships homeporting for 2015/2016? We had a total of 28 ship calls (in 2014), of which 17 were homeporting or turnaround calls. In its second full year of operation in 2015, the number of ship calls will grow to 56, of which 44 will be homeporting or turnaround calls.
What are the top challenges as a cruise terminal operator in the current climate? The top challenge is still visa restriction, although this continues to improve incrementally as more countries grant Chinese travellers visa-free access.
While 170 countries and territories currently have visa-free access to Hong Kong, it is encouraging that now US and Canadian citizens can receive 10-year visas to visit China. To spur growth from overseas source markets, we hope that the Chinese ports can offer 72-hour visa-free access for (more) nationalities, similar to what is available at many Chinese airports.
Any strategies to woo cruise ships? Our current focus is to continue to educate cruise lines on the potential of nearby source markets.
China | Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal
Wang Younong, general director, Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Port Terminal Development
What are the latest plans for expansion and development? The second phase of Wusongkou Port expansion is underway: one 100,000- and one 160,000-tonnage berth will be added to the current two berths. When completed by end-2016, four cruise (ships) will be able to berth at the same time.
We are also developing a Smart Port mobile app to enhance cruise embarkation, disembarkation and pre-cruising experiences. Through the app, guests can read pre-trip instructions, check real-time port information including the surrounding traffic and parking situations, and take a virtual tour of the cruise ship before boarding.
What’s the passenger volume and growth in 2014, as well as expected figures in 2015?2014 was another record-breaking year – Wusongkou welcomed 1.1 million visitors on 216 docked cruise ships. In 2015, 288 cruise ships are scheduled to dock in Wusongkou and over 1.5 million visitors are expected.
What’s the number of ships calling and homeporting in 2015 and 2014? Are there any new ships homeporting for 2015/2016? In 2014, five homeporting cruise ships made 205 departures, while 11 cruise ships called on Wusongkou. During the 2015 season, three more cruise ships, Costa Serena, Skysea Golden Era and Quantum of the Seas chose Wusongkou as their homeport; a total of 280 docks has been scheduled.
What are the top challenges as a cruise terminal operator in the current climate? The fast-surging cruise demand in Yangtze River Delta area excites and challenges us to improve our infrastructure, facilities and services to better serve cruise lines and passengers.
Our latest VIP express programme is designed to engage the surrounding Baoshan District community into the development: passengers staying in selected hotels in Baoshan District can check into cruises at their hotels.
Any strategies to woo cruise ships? We are offering soft incentives by providing quality services and leveraging the local development policies into our port development. For example, we are currently facilitating the collaboration between cruise companies and supply companies in Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone. Hopefully homeporting cruise ships can soon start fast, cost-effective provisioning operations at Wusongkou.
Japan | Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal
Masa Enari, manager for cruise promotion, Port and Harbour Bureau, City of Yokohama
What are the latest plans for expansion and development? We are planning to remodel both the Shinko Pier and the Daikoku Pier to attract more cruise ships to Yokohama Port. The new terminals are scheduled to open in 2018.
What’s the passenger volume and growth in 2014, as well as expected figures in 2015? Our terminal handled about 172,000 passengers in 2013 and 226,000 passengers in 2014. We are expecting a similar number of passengers in 2015 (as 2014).
What’s the number of ships calling and homeporting in 2015 and 2014? Are there any new ships homeporting for 2015/2016? The number of cruise ships that called at Yokohama was 152 in 2013 and 145 in 2014. We anticipate a similar number as 2014 for this year.
Yokohama has been the home port for the Aska II since 2006 and the Diamond Princess started her turnarounds at our port and arrived here more than 20 times in 2014. The Diamond Princess is expected to make turnarounds in Yokohama at least 10 times in 2015.
What are the top challenges as a cruise terminal operator in the current climate? The cruising market is booming in Asia, so the competition among domestic ports has become increasingly keen.
Any strategies to woo cruise ships? We offer discounts on port charges and subsidies – 500,000 yen (US$4,172) each time for foreign cruise ships of more than 50,000 tons docking at the port.
South Korea | Busan International Cruise Terminal
Junwoo Choi, director of global marketing team, Busan Port Authority
What are the latest plans for expansion and development? The terminal will be closed from 2016 to 2018 to carry out expansion work and permit vessels with a gross tonnage of 220,000 to dock.
What’s the passenger volume and growth in 2014, as well as expected figures in 2015?Some 244,935 passengers transited through Busan port in 2014, a 21.9 per cent increase from 2013. We are expecting 280,000 passengers in 2015.
What’s the number of ships calling and homeporting in 2015 and 2014? Are there any new ships homeporting for 2015/2016? There were 110 ships in 2014 and 109 in 2013, and we are expecting around 134 in 2015. Ten ships used Busan as their homeport (including partials) in 2014, but there were none in 2013. We are expecting four vessels to homeport in Busan in 2015, including partials – the Costa Victoria will be using the port for turnarounds and the Diamond Princess for partial turnarounds.
What are the top challenges as a cruise terminal operator in the current climate? High costs. As the size of vessels get bigger – and which shows no signs of slowing – we need to continue to make huge investments in infrastructure.
Any strategies to woo cruise ships? Busan port offers 30 per cent discounts on port dues for cruise vessels and there are some incentives from the local government for travel agencies, but this varies according to different circumstances.
There are also several services for passengers, such as shuttle buses from the terminal to the city centre, tour guides and so forth.
Taiwan | Port of Kaohsiung 
Huang Kuo-Ying, president, Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan International Ports Corporation
What are the latest plans for expansion and development? A 15-storey passenger terminal building is being constructed at Kaohsiung Port Pier 19-20. This 80,000m2 floor area also features two basement floors for parking. The project plan started in 2000 and will be completed in 2017. The total cost is NT$4.5 billion (US$146 million).
Once completed, this will expand existing space by joining Pier 18 and Pier 21 to offer 575m in length and 10.5m in depth, making it suitable for mega vessels of 225,000 tons like Oasis of The Seas.
In return, this will elevate service quality with handling capacity per hour to reach 2,500 passengers and foster the city’s goal to develop as a homeport for international cruises.
What’s the passenger volume and growth in 2014, as well as expected figures in 2015?In 2014, Kaohsiung Port received 133,789 international passengers (in and out) and the figure is expected hit 150,000, demonstrating 15.2 per cent growth.
What’s the number of ships calling and homeporting in 2015 and 2014? Are there any new ships homeporting for 2015/2016? In 2015, we expect to welcome 53 ship calls this year, up from 46 last year.
Any strategies to woo cruise ships? We’ll enhance our berthing and immigration facilities to improve the efficiency, so visitors may spend more time on sightseeing and travel. If (satisfied) visitors share positive feedback with others, more cruise companies will be attracted to Kaohsiung.
What are the top challenges as a cruise terminal operator in the current climate?Constructing a cruise terminal and passenger immigration facilities is very costly, and operators need to figure out how to leverage the port image and the city’s offers to generate more economic returns – this is our current challenge.
As the cruise pier is right next to our general and bulk cargo dock area, this causes traffic issues when coach buses and lorries proceed in and out simultaneously and the traffic exerts pressure on cargo operations and passenger transportation.
This article was first published in TTG Asia, May 15, 2015 issue, on page 15. To read more, please view our digital edition or click here to subscribe
Additional reporting from Prudence Lui, Li Xu, S Puvaneswary, Paige Lee Pei Qi, Mimi Hudoyo and Rosa Ocampo
