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Hamburg sees passenger numbers grow over 35%

Hamburg sees passenger numbers grow over 35%
More than 700,000 passengers visited Hamburg last year on 170 calls making it a record year, informs Cruise Gate Hamburg (CGH) operators of the city's three cruise facilities: Altona, HafenCity and Steinwerder.

Passenger numbers grew over 35% year-on-year.

'Since the inauguration of the Cruise Center Steinwerder in June last year we have perfected our service to very large cruise ships in Hamburg and demonstrated that we are excellently placed both in terms of technical equipment and capacities,'  Sacha Rougier, md CGH, said.

So far, Cruise Center Steinwerder has welcomed 90 cruise ships and the turnaround of more than 530,000 passengers. 'We are currently working on further improving public transport accessibility of Cruise Center Steinwerder,' she added. Since May 2016 CGH has been providing free-of-charge shuttle bus services from the Veddel S-Bahn station to the terminal.

'We will continue our efforts to make Hamburg more attractive to cruise lines and passengers by investing in modern infrastructure facilities and supplying alternative energy to cruise ships,' commented Jens Meier, chairman of the Management Board of the HPA.

For 2017 CGH expects the success story to continue. 'Our current plans provide for a double-digit percentage growth in passenger numbers',  Rougier stated. In addition, CGH will have more berth assignment options after the widening of the entrance to the Vorhafen Harbour Basin has been completed. Simulations have shown that after the widening, ships with a maximum beam of 40mtr will be able to berth at Altona Terminal.

Highlights in 2017 include maiden calls by Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Joy, Mein Schiff 6, Independence Of the Seas, MSC Preziosa and Silver Wind.