Cruise port project forecast to deliver £87m to the region

Approval is being sought to appoint a preferred partner to the Hull Cruise Yorkshire project.

If approved by Hull City Council’s cabinet, the decision would see Associated British Ports (ABP), who recently spoke at TheBusinessDesk.com’s Invest North conference, appointed.

A report recommending ABP’s appointment will be heard at the council’s Riverside area committee and economy & investment scrutiny committee, before a decision is made at a cabinet meeting on 28 March.

The report highlights how the new cruise port will be a “major transformative regeneration project”, delivering almost £87m to the region over the first 15 years and generating more than 2,800 jobs.

In the report, Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council, said: “The council is very much looking forward to working with ABP who will play a vital role in shaping, developing and operating Hull’s first dedicated cruise port.

“Together we will expand cruise tourism in Hull and the Yorkshire region, making it a sustainable and  successful historical and cultural cruise destination, creating new jobs and businesses.”

Simon Bird, ABP Humber director, said: “As the UK’s biggest port operator with large cruise terminals in places such as Southampton, as well being a beating heart in the city of Hull, we feel we are the natural choice to be involved in this exciting project.

“We hope it will bring jobs and investment to our area.”

The project will create a purpose-built cruise port to bring an estimated 30,000 cruise visitors per year directly into Hull’s city centre waterfront.

To facilitate sustainability the investment includes installing shoreside electricity power, allowing ships to turn off their main and auxiliary engines while in port – reducing pollutants by about 90%, as well as reducing noise and vibration.

Road infrastructure investment will also form part of the project in the future.