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Navigate steers grand opening of new Port Terminal
20/05/2011
The opening ceremony at Portsmouth International Port's new ferry terminal was performed by Dr Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (pictured centre), on the morning of 13 May.
Gareth Gammon, MD of Navigate, said later: "This was both a significant day for Portsmouth International Port and a successful day for the Navigate team. We have created and planned this event for the Port for six months and the whole team worked creatively and diligently.
"With 200 maritime and travel dignitaries from the cruise and ferry world invited to the opening, this was a great opportunity for the Port to showcase its fabulous new facilities. Amongst other initiatives, Navigate produced a corporate video, 13 exhibition banners, the event invitations, the timetable, the press relations, the AV and the overall event management”
Emma Gaisford, Navigate’s PR Director added: "Big opening events like this are always a challenge, and we achieved some fantastic media coverage for the Port.”
Opening day
On the day Dr Cable viewed the new terminal and unveiled a plaque inside the building. "I am pleased to be opening the new passenger terminal at Portsmouth International Port,” he said. "The ferry and cruise ship industries make a major contribution to the economy of the entire country. This is a significant investment in new facilities at Portsmouth that will bring a wider benefit elsewhere in the UK through tourism and business.”
Councillor Mike Hancock, MP for Portsmouth South and Executive Member for the Port (which is owned by Portsmouth City Council), said, "Portsmouth International Port makes a significant contribution to the local economy and this investment in the new terminal is key to it maintaining its position as a successful and thriving Port.
"This is the fulfilment of the commitment I gave on behalf of the City Council that we will provide the best terminal with great facilities to serve our customers, both the ferry operators and their passengers. I am delighted that we have lived up to those commitments.”
The new terminal building
The stunning new building is part of a £16.5 million investment in new passenger facilities. As well as a striking glass and steel construction, the light and spacious terminal is designed to be one of the most environmentally friendly public buildings in the UK.
With work completed ahead of schedule the new terminal is already being used by ferry and cruise ship passengers. It replaces another building constructed 35 years ago. The new facilities have attracted a record number of visiting cruise companies in 2011, with All Leisure Group Limited basing three of its ships at the Port for the next five years.
The new terminal will provide passengers with a comfortable and stylish start to their holiday. Inside there is a full-height concourse and mezzanine bar/café with an observation balcony overlooking the Port. Facilities will include: comfortable seating, a shop for last-minute purchases, travel essentials and souvenirs, a bureau de change and Costa coffee. The assembled 150 guests at the Opening Ceremony were given the chance to see all of the facilities during a tour of the new of the building.
Martin Putman, Port Manager, said "We’re delighted that Vince Cable has made time in his busy schedule to officially open the new terminal. It’s a recognition of the importance he places on the investment we have made in improving passenger facilities.”
The 2700 sq m new terminal building has taken 14 months to build, a project managed by Mansell Construction Services Ltd. It incorporates the latest green technology. This includes wind catchers on the roof, sea water to flush toilets and a revolutionary heat exchange pump that uses the sea to heat and cool the building.
Portsmouth International Port offers more destinations than any other UK Port, with regular sailings to: Caen, Cherbourg, Le Havre, St Malo, Santander, Bilbao, Jersey and Guernsey. There are around 3300 ferry sailings a year, carrying 2.2 million passengers and 260,000 freight units.
