He Urban Port District of Seville will have a new cruise and megayacht terminal of more than 1,500 square meters which will be managed by Global Ports and Ocean Platform Marinas. This was approved this Thursday by the board of directors of … the Seville Port Authority (APS), which gave the green light to the proposal to award the tender for the management of the future terminal to the commercial alliance formed by the two leading companies in the sector: Global Ports Holding Limited, the world’s largest cruise terminal operator with a consolidated presence in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Europe; and Ocean Platform Marinas (OPM), one of the leading managers of large marinas in Spain, whose majority shareholder is Ocean Capital Partners.
According to the Port Authority, for the next 25 yearsGlobal Ports and OPM Seville will combine the operational experience, specialization and knowledge of both companies to position the Port of Seville as a high-profile destination for cruise ships and megayachts. The objective of this initiative is attract scales with higher added value for both businesses, optimize all services associated with each stopover, and improve service and the passenger experience; as well as strengthening the urban integration of the waterfront.
The concession area includes an area of 5,100 square meters distributed between the current Delicias pier cruise terminal, the adjacent esplanades and the mooring line. Furthermore, this also includes the occupation of 1,548 square meters on the Tablada quay for the new cruise and megayacht terminal which will be located in one of the port’s historic hangars, within the Urban Port District. Once the cruise ship berth moves to Tablada, Delicias Wharf will strengthen its role as a marina for large yachts.
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Digital recreations of the exterior and interior of the new Tablada terminal
Throughout the different phases of the project, Global Ports and OPM Sevilla plan to invest more than 5 million euros intended primarily for development of the new terminal and improvement of services for cruise ships and megayachts. Concretely, the investment program includes the improvement of mooring areas, optimization of passenger flow, specialized support for large yachts and technical facilities for wintering and repairs afloat.
He investment program will take place over the next five years; although, in the short term, Global Ports and OPM Sevilla will allocate more than 700,000 euros for improvements to the current cruise terminal and on Delicias Pier. In addition to cruising operations, the concession includes the provision of specialized services for megayachts, such as assistance, provisioning and technical support, positioning Seville as an attractive home port and wintering destination for operators.
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What the new cruise and megayacht terminal will look like
Rafael Carmonapresident of the Port Authority, assures that “the world leaders in the sector have joined forces to manage the cruise terminal with a clear commitment to the Port of Seville”. Carmona highlighted the interest shown in the potential of the capital of Seville as a tourist destination of excellence and indicated that “our objective is to jointly promote the development of the port activity of premium cruises and megayachts according to sustainability criteria, with more calls and a marina in the heart of the city”.
For his part, Mehmet KutmanChairman and CEO of Global Ports Holding, said that “we are delighted to expand our presence in Spain with the Port of Seville Cruise Terminal. From the moment I first saw Seville, I was captivated by its beauty, its history and its unique spirit, and it is truly inspiring to now be part of such an extraordinary city. Together with our local partner, OPM, we believe that Seville offers exceptional potential for cruise and megayacht operations. We hope work closely with the port authority to enhance the full potential of this extraordinary destination.
The business alliance will invest more than 5 million in the new terminal and improved services for cruise ships and megayachts
Furthermore, José Luis AlmazánCEO of Ocean Capital Partners, said: “We want make Seville a model of city-port integrationa base where boats can benefit from first-class services and enjoy a unique urban experience. For this we have the support of the Seville Port Authority and Global Ports Holding as the best ally in terminal management and passenger service.
He Port of Seville occupies a unique position in the cruise industry, as noted by the Port Authority. Thanks to its location in the territory accessible by the Euroway Guadalquivir, this inland seaport is ideal for boarding and transit operationsparticularly for cruises combining river and maritime itineraries. Currently, the volume of cruise passengers is around 20,000 cruise passengers per year, a figure that Global Ports and OPM Sevilla plan to increase thanks to their consolidated position in the sector, their strong relationships with shipping companies and their global commercial network.
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