WFS Awarded Hong Kong Cruise Terminal Management and Operations Contract

A consortium led by Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has been awarded the tenancy agreement for the new HK$8.156 billion (US$1.046 billion) cruise terminal at Kai Tak by the Tourism Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

WFS' minority partners in the venture are Royal Caribbean Cruises and a subsidiary of Shun Tak Holdings Limited. Royal Caribbean Cruises is the second largest cruise company in the world, and Shun Tak Holdings is a local diversified conglomerate providing travel-related services.

The 10-year contract award was determined by a competitive bidding process.

The new cruise terminal, scheduled to be completed in mid-2013, is located on the historic runway of the former Kai Tak airport, and is designed to accommodate the new class of mega-cruisers.

With an apron area of 850 x 35 metres, water depth of 12-13 metres, and no air draft restriction, the facility will easily accommodate the largest passenger cruise vessels in operation today, Royal Caribbean's Oasis class vessels, with a length of 360 metres.

Barry D. Nassberg, Chief Operating Officer of Worldwide Flight Services, said, "We are delighted to have been given this opportunity to help grow the tourism trade in Hong Kong and look forward to marketing this state-of-the-art facility to cruise lines around the world when they consider ship deployments. There is significant competition among ports in different regions of the world to attract cruise ship business. We will work together with our partners to create a passenger experience that sets new standards, in keeping with Hong Kong's reputation for service excellence. We will serve to delight cruise travellers, and ensure that cruise lines and their passengers want to keep coming back to the Kai Tak cruise terminal in Hong Kong."

The Cruise Terminal at Kai Tak has been designed by Foster + Partners and has immigration and customs facilities with design capacity to process 3,000 passengers per hour.

Jeff Bent, Director for Cruise Projects at Worldwide Flight Services, said, "Hong Kong's wide variety of cultural, gastronomic, urban, and countryside attractions make it an ideal destination for long-haul and short-haul travellers alike, and our vast source market in mainland China for cruise passengers is an enduring attraction for cruise lines.”

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