19 April 2021
Preparations for a cruise restart began almost immediately after the pause in operations was announced a year ago. Ports are ready and cruise lines are ready. There is a crucial, and often invisible, cog in this machine that holds it all together.
The Stevedores.
Solent Stevedores, the leading cruise stevedoring operator, is ready to support the port and cruise partners with enhanced heath and safety measures implemented for cruise operations.
Cruise stevedoring takes on a few roles – all critical to operations during a turn-around call. Offloading and loading the cruise stores, passenger luggage and in a very hands-on, practical sense, safely and securely bringing the vessel alongside.
For Solent Stevedores, the team at the Port of Southampton typically handles 400 cruise calls each year with 1.8 million passengers. Handling 2.7 million suitcases, and load in excess of 100,000 tonnes of ships’ stores. Quite simply, without the stevedoring teams a cruise could not operate.
Tom Dynes, Director at Solent Stevedores said: “The news of UK domestic sailings returning from 17 May is fantastic news for the cruise industry. It’s an important and welcome step towards seeing a full return of cruise. As a leading supplier of stevedoring and turnaround services to cruise lines, this is something we have been working on for many months in partnership with our colleagues in the wider industry.”
“We cannot wait to start seeing the steady flow of passengers again through the terminals and loading luggage and stores onto the ships. We look forward to continuing to support our cruise partners and are looking ahead to a strong and welcome return of cruise.”