Morning coffee – Registration

Opening statements

CRUISE PORTS: CAN INFRASTRUCTURE KEEP UP WITH DEMAND?

• When designing cruise ship deployment, itinerary planners must take into consideration a multitude of parameters including port suitability and berth availability. As the newly constructed cruise ships become increasingly sophisticated, can ports deliver the additional infrastructure required and still be competitive?
• Berth allocation is a port’s responsibility, but is it actually a port problem in its entirety? Are Port Authorities and Destination Management Organizations cooperating adequately so as to achieve manageable daily passenger arrivals or is berth allocation based only on port limitations? Can a well-designed and fully transparent berth allocation system optimise the use of existing port infrastructure and increase port revenue?
• More and more ports are investing in shore power installations, as well as in gearing up for the clean energy transition and port cities are already seeing significant reductions of carbon and sulphur emissions. For the many smaller ports that mainly rely on cruise and ferry traffic, what technical solutions and financing tools are available to them to achieve some level of environmental protection for their port and local community?
• Earlier in the year, Greece’s Asset Development Fund announced tenders for interest in operating and developing the cruise ports of Katakolon, the Old Port of Patras and the City Port of Kavala over a 30-year period. How successful are these types of concession agreements in the short and long terms?

Networking coffee break for Speakers, Delegates and Press

CRUISE LINES & DESTINATIONS: THE NEED FOR AN EARNEST DIALOGUE

• Is it over-tourism or over-crowding in ports of call that we are actually talking about? Have specific marquee cruise destinations surpassed their visitor carrying or bearing capacity?
• Although there is overall consensus that destinations must strive for long-term sustainability for their tourism to survive, the short-term challenges of over-exposure, over-crowding and in some cases, over-tourism, constitute a reality that needs to be navigated. Is it feasible for destination authorities and cruise lines to discuss and agree on ways to ensure both visitor and local community satisfaction?
• Apart from the need to secure a sustainable future for ultra popular destinations, an earnest dialogue between cruise lines and destinations to seek alternate ways of easing cruise generated traffic to popular and bucket-list sites must take place. Price related measures are theoretically an easy answer, however, are there more effective tools that can be used, such as slots for crowd-management?

Networking lunch for Speakers, Delegates and Press

Parallel session
COASTAL & SHORT SEA SHIPPING: EVOLVING TOWARDS A GREENER FUTURE

• The EU’s Fit for 55 and its Fuel EU Maritime Initiative for reduced greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime industry are fast approaching. Will governments and the EU itself, provide the funding mechanisms necessary for ferry operators to renew fleets and ports to complete the “green transition” and meet compliance deadlines?
• To what degree can the cost of domestic fleet replacement be transferred to the consumer with the sector still remain competitive versus other transport options?
• The need for improved berthing and passenger facilities in nearly all Greek island destinations has been an ongoing discussion for decades. As the fleet mix of older conventional ferries and high-speed vessels is changing, the dock requirements have also changed. Can ports keep up with the necessary infrastructure upgrades that will ensure improved marine operations, safety, efficiency vehicle and passenger turnarounds and experience quality?

Parallel session
YACHTING & MARINAS

“YES” TO SEA TOURISM FORUM