Greenock port operator set to earn cruise ship millions

THE owner of Greenock's Ocean Terminal is set to earn millions of pounds this year from charges to cruise ships, the Telegraph can reveal.

Each of the 79 vessels expected by Clydeport is facing combined fees of around £40,000 every time they dock.

It could mean earnings of more than £3million to the company, which is part of the Peel Ports Group.

According to the Clydeport Schedule of Common User Charges, ships are charged £6,115 every time they berth in Greenock.  Bigger boats have to pay extra.

There are additional charges of up to £3,400 an hour if vessels stay over their allotted time.

Ships will also have to pay a £4.20 levy for every passenger they carry.

Around 115,000 are expected to arrive in the town this year.

Boarding and landing fees can cost up to £3,473 - also depending on ship size.

There are further charges of £6,262 for mooring and unmooring and a £6,097 facility fee to access services in the terminal building.

Ship operators must pay £3,400 to allow access to restricted areas, called ISPS Berths, and there is a £3,131 parking charge for coaches used to transport passengers.

Waste removal can cost £4,759 and boats must pay £341 to hire a gangway.

Other services such as baggage handling and loading of stores must also be paid for.

Last year was Greenock Ocean Terminal's busiest on record, with 91 vessels.

However, there have been concerns that Inverclyde does not see the full benefit of the cruise trade.

Politicians have called for a cruise ship levy which would enable councils to charge ships if they stay overnight in the port

One levy supporter is Scottish Greens West of Scotland MSP Ross Greer, whose area includes Inverclyde.

He said: “Tourism from cruise ships does contribute a lot to our economy but it also puts a huge strain on local services, primarily those delivered by councils who see no direct benefit from the huge numbers of visitors coming off the ships. 

"The levy should be designed to maximise the funds raised for councils and the services they deliver, taking into account factors like visitor numbers and the impact these hugely polluting ships have on the local environment.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is open to giving local authorities the power to create a cruise ship levy. 

"We are continuing to examine how best to take this forward working in partnership with COSLA and local government.”

Peel Ports is the UK’s second largest port group.

Headquartered in Liverpool, it owns and operates ports and terminals across the UK, including Greenock.

Ian Cochran, Editor of International Cruise Ship Industry, said: "These charges tend to be standard across the industry.

"It all depends on the size of the ship and the number of passengers they are carrying.

"What the cruise ships do is to adjust their fares to reflect the charges at each port.

"Most ships tend not to stay longer than 12 hours because of the various extra costs they can incur

"They normally arrive about seven or eight in the morning and are usually away by six  in the evening."

Ian believes cruise ships won't stay overnight if they are going to be charged a levy.

He added:"If they do decide to stay overnight they will just pass the cost on to the passenger in the fares.

"Ninety per cent of cruise ships do not stay overnight - anywhere in the world.

"It just costs them too much money."

The port welcomed its first major vessel of the season on May 3, with the Regal Princess, which has a capacity of 3,560 passengers.

Cunard's new ship, Queen Anne, will arrive in Greenock on June 1 during its maiden voyage.

Last year a £20 million visitor centre at Greenock Ocean Terminal - built with majority investment of £10.4m of public money from the Scottish and UK governments - opened.

Peel Ports invested £8m in the project and £1.7m came from the George Wyllie Foundation, via the Dunard Fund.

It features an arrivals/departure hall as well as the Wyllieum museum, a restaurant and art gallery.

Peel Ports declined to comment on the cruise ship income figures.

An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said: “Inverclyde has become a premier cruise destination and this year we are expecting 115,000-plus passengers to dock at the new Greenock Ocean Terminal visitor centre.

“The centre was funded through the Glasgow City Region City Deal and supported by Peel Ports to increase capacity for tourism and  commercial shipping.  

“That  presents opportunities for local businesses to capitalise on the cruise ship passengers and also the thousands of crew members who dock here each year.

“We are always looking at opportunities to further enhance the visitor experience and encourage more people to discover what Inverclyde has to offer.”