Global Ports Holding Opens St. Vincent Cruise Port Talks
The June 11 agreement centers on a government-owned concession model, with Global Ports Holding proposing phased upgrades at Kingstown and work on shore excursions.
Global Ports Holding has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to enter exclusive negotiations over the management, development and operation of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cruise Port. The June 11 agreement sets up talks on a concession model under which the port would remain government-owned while GPH manages cruise operations.
The potential concession would apply to a Southern Caribbean destination that currently handles more than 200,000 cruise passengers annually. GPH said its plan, if the concession is awarded, would include phased investment to modernize port infrastructure, expand berthing capacity, accommodate larger cruise vessels and improve passenger facilities.
Talks focus on a government-owned concession model
GPH did not disclose a concession term or investment value in its announcement. A Seatrade Cruise News account, citing local media, put the discussions at a 30-year concession and as much as EC$250 million, or about US$92 million, in phased investment for the Kingstown cruise terminal and later facilities in the Grenadines.
Mehmet Kutman, chairman and CEO of Global Ports Holding, said the company was “delighted” to sign the MOU and to explore “a long-term partnership in support of the country’s cruise tourism development.”
Mike Maura Jr., regional director of GPH Americas, tied the talks to the company’s strategy of partnering with governments in cruise destinations. “St. Vincent and the Grenadines is well positioned within the Southern Caribbean cruise itinerary,” Maura said, adding that investment, modernized infrastructure and destination management could make the port more attractive to cruise lines and passengers.
Kingstown capacity and shore excursions are part of the plan
St. Vincent’s cruise facilities are centered on the Kingstown Cruise Terminal in the capital, with deep-water berths and capacity for two ships at once, or one very large vessel. The terminal sits within walking distance of downtown Kingstown. Smaller ships may anchor offshore and tender passengers in.
GPH said its two-phase program would cover both infrastructure and operations. The company also plans to work with the government and local stakeholders on shore excursion development, an important element for a multi-island destination that includes the Grenadines.
The country sits in the southeastern Caribbean near Barbados, St. Lucia and Grenada. GPH’s listed Caribbean and Americas portfolio already includes Antigua, Nassau, Saint Lucia and San Juan, alongside other cruise ports in Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa and Asia.
Any concession remains subject to definitive agreements and the formal award of concession rights. GPH has not announced a deadline for completing negotiations with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines government.
