published Tue, February 21, 2012
Aberdeen harbour boss welcomes thriving cruise season
Aberdeen Harbour is preparing to welcome 10 cruise calls this summer, with four vessels making their first ever visits to the city.
The arrival of Rembrandt van Rijn on May 5, will signal the
start of the season. A 168-foot passenger ship, Rembrandt will
spend a day berthed at the port, before embarking on an eight-day
voyage around the Scottish Isles.
The tour will encompass Copinsey, an uninhabited island nature
reserve and home to more than 1,000 pairs of nesting fulmars, Fair
Isle in Shetland, the tiny islands of North Rona and Sula Sgeir in
the north-west of Scotland, Lewis, St Kilda and Oban.
Other liners to visit the harbour over the summer months will
include Noble Caledonia's Ocean Nova, Caledonian Sky and Clipper
Odyssey, the Plancius, Fram and Ortelius.
Ocean Nova will begin its voyage on the East coast, arriving at the
harbour in May, before sailing via Orkney and the Shetland Islands
to one of Norway's most stunning areas, Sunnfjord. Passengers will
then be treated to three days of exploration around the main island
of the Spitsbergen archipelago, with sights including immense
glaciers, narrow fjords, and polar bears.
The Ortelius liner, an ice-strengthened vessel primarily used for
polar expeditions, is scheduled to arrive in Aberdeen in June.
Accommodating up to 100-passengers, she is named after the
cartographer of the first modern world atlas.
She will be followed by the luxurious Caledonian Sky, which will
arrive in Aberdeen later in the month, before departing for the
inner and Outer Hebrides, with destinations including Rum,
Tobermoray, the Isle of Skye and Iona. The vessel features
extravagant suites with viewing balconies, while passengers will
have access to a panoramic observation desk, library and
gymnasium.
Chief executive of Aberdeen Harbour, Colin Parker, said: "The
number of cruise calls scheduled for Aberdeen this year is very
promising. It highlights both the increasing popularity of
cruising, while also reinforcing the attractiveness of Aberdeen as
a destination.
"The port is central to those vessels looking to explore the unique
cultures and breathtaking scenery on offer across both the Scottish
Islands and beyond. The slight rise is also a reflection of the
growing number of cruise operators that are recognising the first
class services and facilities on offer at the harbour.
"We look forward to extending a warm welcome to this year's
vessels, including the Rembrandt Van Rijn and Ortelius, which are
among those visiting the North-east for the first time."
Aberdeen Harbour works alongside the 14 member ports that make up
Cruise Scotland, promoting the country as an attractive cruise ship
destination for overseas travellers. The harbour is also a member
of Cruise Europe, a long established organisation with similar aims
for many European coastal states.
Aberdeen Harbour is one of the UK's busiest ports and the
centre of activity for the energy industry's marine operations in
North-west Europe. With trading links to more than 40 countries
across the world, the port is a key regional resource and a vital
part of Northern Scotland's infrastructure.
With a wide range of industry sectors contributing to record
annual traffic figures, Aberdeen Harbour handles over 25 million
tonnes of shipping and cargo exceeding five million tonnes, worth
£1.5 billion. Activity at the port generates over £420 million to
the region's economy each year and helps sustain around 11,000
full-time equivalent jobs.
Date: 21/02/2012