Cruise debut

ABP Port of Southampton’s Horizon Cruise Terminal berthed MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa on 3 July, ahead of its formal opening later in the year. The first ship to welcome passengers at the terminal, the vessel is fitted with shore power connectivity and will be able to ‘plug in’ once the terminal’s shore power is commissioned later this year.

Alastair Welch, director of ABP Southampton, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be building the infrastructure for the future of cruise with a commitment to sustainable operations.”

Solar power

The GB£55m terminal is fitted with more than 2,000 roof-mounted solar panels, which means that on a day-to-day basis it will generate more power than it uses.

Last year, ABP announced the multi-user terminal in partnership with MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. This strong investment into the future of cruise supports a developing industry and welcomes the next generation of ships in terms of size, capacity and technology.

Howard Sherman, executive vice president of destination services and onboard revenue at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, said: “We look forward to the debut of Seven Seas Splendor, the first ship in our fleet scheduled to visit the new terminal this Autumn.”

Horizon Cruise Terminal is in the Port of Southampton’s Western Docks, inside Dock Gate 10.

The construction of the terminal has received support from the Solent LEP and the UK Government’s Getting Building Programme.