Portland Port has embarked on a major programme of works to enhance its capability to serve the ever-growing number of visiting cruise lines.

Development work has started on the project and a fully modelled plan has been finalised.

Work on the first of the new mooring bollards is expected to commence shortly. When completed the extended berth will put Portland Port in a very small group of ports on the English Channel with the capability to handle some of the largest cruise ships operating in the global fleets.

Ian McQuade, General Manager (Business Development) for Portland Port said: “This is a major investment for the port and has the clear aim of securing the port's position within the cruise sector. This extension of our main cruise berth shows the port's ongoing commitment to the cruise industry".

“Portland Port has seen record figures for cruise calls and passengers in both 2013 and 2014 and already 2015 is looking good exceed these numbers again. With a berth capable of handling ships up to 340m LOA from 2016 the future looks very bright".

The port will be present at the forthcoming Cruise Shipping Miami event on the Cruise Britain stand (number 630/1) with the aim of promoting the new berth.

“This event is the major show case of the year for the cruise industry and will give us the opportunity to brief all the cruise lines face to face on the berth extension.

Planning will soon be starting for 2016 and we want to ensure that Portland Port gets full consideration for inclusion in as many 2016 itineraries as possible" remarked Mr. McQuade.

Key features of the development include: • Capability to handle ships up to 340m LOA alongside; • Construction of new, heavy duty, mooring and breasting dolphins; • Addition of a new suite of 150t mooring bollards on existing berth and on new dolphins; • High capacity pneumatic floating fenders; • Minimum water depth 9.6m at CD; • Large service apron; • Entry into service spring 2016.