The council has today published a report requesting approval to appoint a Preferred Partner to the Hull Cruise Yorkshire project.
If approved by the council’s cabinet, the decision would see Associated British Ports (ABP) appointed.
The report will be heard at the council’s Riverside area committee and economy & investment scrutiny before a decision is made at a cabinet meeting on Monday 28 March.
In the report Councillor Daren Hale, Leader of Hull City Council says:
“I am delighted that the procurement process has secured Associated British Ports as the council’s Preferred Partner. 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: “We are delighted that ABP has been chosen as the Preferred Partner to operate the Hull Cruise Terminal.
“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 report highlights how the new cruise port will be a major transformative regeneration project delivering almost £87 million to the region over the first fifteen years and generating more than 2800 jobs.
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.