Turkey’s Global Ports inks deal to run Havana’s cruise ship port

HAVANA

Turkey’s Global Ports Holding (GPH) has announced it has signed a 15-year management agreement with the Cuban company Aries S.A. for the operation of the cruise port in Havana, Cuba.

The agreement will also see a significant investment program grow the port from two cruise berths to six by 2024, according to a statement, which was released on May 22.

Havana’s port has two cruise ship terminals, but is expected to add another four. Last year, it handled 328,000 passengers; this number is forecast to rise to 500,000 this year.

Under the terms of the agreement, Global Ports said it will use global expertise and operating model to manage all of the cruise port’s operations over the life of the agreement.

As consideration, GPH will be paid a management fee that is based on a number of factors including passenger numbers, with growth based incentives.

“In addition to operating the cruise port operations, the group will continue to work with our Cuban partners on the design and technical specification of the cruise port investment program, including proposed new terminals. Once these have been completed, GPH will take responsibility for the marketing and commercialization of these new facilities,” GPH said.

GPH is the large cruise port operator in the world, with a dozen ports under operation in the Mediterranean, in addition to Singapore, according to the statement.

The company has 13 cruise ports and two commercial ports across seven countries.