The UK’s Port of Southampton and Florida’s PortMiami signed a sister port agreement to enable them to collaborate and share best practices to strengthen the cruise market in both cities. The partnership provides responsibilities for cruise industry best practice in their respective areas.
The agreement was signed in Southampton by Alastair Welch, director of the Port of Southampton Director; Juan Kuryla, port director at PortMiami; and Carlos Gimenez, Mayor of Miami-Dade County.
Generally, the port of Southampton serves more than two million cruise passengers, on an annual basis, and brings £2 million into the economy with every cruise call.
As Councillor Christopher Hammond, Leader of Southampton City Council commented
Like Southampton, Miami is a gateway to the world, and for hundreds of years people and goods have come to this confident and open maritime city to trade and visit.
In addition, Mayor of Miami-Dade County Carlos Gimenez added that Miami and Southampton have much in common; They are both leaders in trade and tourism and both aspire to develop economically and commercially.
Concluding, in April 2019, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners granted approval for MSC Cruises to design, construct, operate and maintain a large building that hosts two cruise terminals (AA and AAA) as well as two berths. Work on the new terminals is due to commence in early 2020 and is expected to be completed by late 2022.
