#ProposedTerminal - According to CruiseEurope authorities in Liverpool last month approved a £950,000 (€1.12m) feasibility study into a proposed new cruise terminal development.

The west coast UK port has long held ambitions to expand its offer with the construction of a purpose-built facility capable of attracting additional turnaround business and handling up to 3,600 passengers.

Afloat.ie adds that the proposed development has already led to the Manx Government voting that a site be acquired as the existing Isle of Man ferry berth would need to be relocated for the new development. 

Liverpool’s existing cruise berth opened nine years ago with the aim of securing day calls. A temporary passenger facility was subsequently added in 2012 and the city now attracts turnaround as well as transit business. The River Mersey terminal is this year scheduled to handle 61 vessels and 76,000 passenger who are able to disembark directly onto the city’s world famous, UNESCO World Heritage Site waterfront.

A report to the City Council’s ruling Cabinet set out the next steps in the development plan and the need for detailed investigations, impact assessments and surveys. Councillors gave the go-ahead to the work which will be led by a consortia of technical specialists including Ove Arup & Partners, Royal Haskoning DV, Tuner and Townsend and KKA Architects.

A footprint for the planned development has already been identified. It will require demolition of a former timber landing stage, which once handled Liverpool’s transatlantic services until the late 1960s, and construction of a platform in the river to accommodate the new terminal. It is envisaged that this building will be on two levels built on reclaimed land.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “I am determined that we find solutions to continue the growth we have seen in cruise business. What is holding us back at the moment is the limited space we have in the existing facility. To deliver on our ambitions, we would need to invest in a new terminal building which will bring bigger liners carrying more passengers, meaning a bigger boost for the local economy.”

Liverpool’s 2016 cruise schedule is estimated to generate an income of £6.5m (€7.7m) for the city’s economy. Mayor Anderson added: “We have various options of funding the scheme which we will be exploring, but the figures speak for themselves in terms of jobs supported and created by passengers and crew spending money when they visit the city.” Timescales for the phase of work approved today have not yet been set.

On July 2 the centenary of one of Liverpool’s Three Graces, the Cunard Building was celebrated. To mark the occasion that morning, Queen Elizabeth sailed up the River Mersey heralding the start of a series of events marking the centenary of this iconic venue. These included two ‘Best of British’ celebratory concerts which took place on the world heritage waterfront at Pier Head. 

The weekend also saw the Cunard Building opening its doors to a brand new exhibition charting the rise and success of The Jam. With more plans in the pipeline, the Cunard Building is once again opening for the public.

In June Disney Magic (see first ever call by Disney Cruise Lines to Dublin Port) was met by 100,000 people on Liverpool Pier Head. Adults and children dressed up in Disney outfits for a day of Disney-themed activities to celebrate the ship’s return to Liverpool for the second time. Disney Magic returns in 2017 when the city will repeat the event as a result of the positive feedback from those attending.

Fred Olsen is offering a total of 16 sailings from Liverpool in its 2016 cruise season. Head of sales Neil Herbert commented: “Fred Olsen is a frequent visitor to the Merseyside region and in 2016 is offering one of the highest number of cruise calls, allowing guests from the North West a greater choice of destinations and holiday duration.”