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Big plans for Wusongkou

By Wang Ying in Shanghai | China Daily USA | Updated: 2017-07-07 12:46

The operator of the Asia's busiest cruise port is aiming to double passenger volume by 2023 while improving its service and management standards as well as lowering carbon emission

Since its establishment in 2012, Shanghai's Wusongkou Cruise Port has rode the waves of strong demand for cruise travel to become the busiest of its kind in Asia, and now its operator is looking to play a bigger role in the city's ambition to become a global shipping hub.

The number of cruise liners arriving at the port has grown exponentially over the years. In 2016, the port welcomed 471 cruise ships, a surge from the 60 vessels in 2012. Meanwhile, passenger trips snowballed from about 300,000 in 2012 to 2.85 million last year, accounting for 63 percent of the nation's total.

Wang Younong, chairman of Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal Development Co Ltd, said in a recent interview with China Daily USA that the port is now aiming to handle up to 5 million passenger trips by 2023.

He pointed out that the port will be capable of handling such a volume following the completion of its 1 billion yuan ($147.16 million) expansion project which started in 2015.

"The fact that Shanghai is a cosmopolitan city located in the prosperous Yangtze River Delta region means there is a large enough customer base for a port like Wusongkou," he added.

The Wusongkou Cruise Port, which is currently the world's fourth largest, can accommodate two large cruise liners at the same time and is able to manage 17,000 passenger trips daily. After the expansion, the terminal's shoreline will grow to 1,600 meters from the current 774 meters, allowing up to four large cruise liners to berth at one time. It would also be able to handle up to 40,000 passenger trips daily.

Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal Development Co Ltd is a State-owned joint venture between China Merchants Group and the local government of Baoshan district where Wusongkou port is located.

The district is aspiring to be among the world's top three cruise ports by 2020. Its objectives include being home to more than 20 cruise institutions and receiving up to 6 million passenger trips a year by 2020.

Wang noted that the port's rapid development can be attributed to the operator's commitment to quality service standards, good infrastructure as well as a transparent and fair market environment.

According to Wang, there are presently many opportunities in cruise tourism as the industry is still in its infancy. He noted that the penetration rate of cruise traveling in China is only 0.05 percent, far behind the 3 percent in the United States and Europe.

The compound annual growth rate of China's cruise economy has been around 45 percent over the past decade. In 2016, Chinese travelers made about 2.1 million cruise trips, the third highest in the world, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

"This is a brand new industry and this means everybody can start from scratch. We're motivated to make the best of it. Just like a cruise trip itself, this young industry is like an adventure for its players," said Wang.

"The delivery and operation of the first made-in-China cruise ship will also be a catalyst in the development of the nation's cruise industry, and it will offer more growth opportunities for all parties involved."

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co Ltd is scheduled to deliver the nation's first domestically built cruise liner in 2023. Italy-based Fincantieri SpA, the world's largest cruise shipbuilding company, and the China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC), had in 2016 signed an agreement to establish a joint venture to build cruise ships at Waigaoqiao in Shanghai.

Wang said that a home-grown cruise fleet with a stable customer base will help Wusongkou Cruise Port realize its goal of becoming a world-class cruise home port with global influence.

He added that the port operator will continue to focus on enhancing its service and management standards as well as carry out trials on low carbon emission and new energy applications.

wang_ying@chinadaily.com.cn

Big plans for Wusongkou

(China Daily USA 07/07/2017 page7)

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