Global Ports Holding Wins 30-Year Ferrol Cruise Terminal Deal
The first phase calls for a 480-square-meter building, and Global Ports Holding plans a mobile facility so Ferrol can handle more than one cruise call at once.
Global Ports Holding has secured a 30-year concession through Global Ports Ferrol S.L. to build and operate a new cruise terminal at the Port of Ferrol in northwest Spain. The Port Authority of Ferrol-San Cibrao granted the concession for a 960-square-meter site on the Outer Breakwater Wharf, where GPH plans a phased terminal project as it targets annual passenger growth from about 23,000 in 2026 to roughly 80,000 by 2034.
The concession follows GPH’s November 2025 award for Ferrol Cruise Port and places the project within a Spanish portfolio that already includes Alicante, Barcelona, Málaga, Sevilla, Tarragona, Vigo and the Canary Islands ports of Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Las Palmas. Ferrol sits on Atlantic cruise routings and already handles ships close to the city center, but the new project centers on dedicated terminal infrastructure at the outer wharf.
“Ferrol represents another important milestone in our continued growth across Spain and the Atlantic region,” said Mehmet Kutman, chairman and CEO of Global Ports Holding.
Francesc Grau, GPH regional director West Med, said Ferrol has “strong potential as an emerging cruise destination in Northern Spain,” citing its maritime heritage, cultural offering and access to the wider Galicia region.
Two-phase terminal plan at the outer wharf
The first phase calls for construction of a 480-square-meter terminal building. A second phase is planned once the wharf is fully operational, with the later work intended to support larger cruise vessels.
GPH also plans to use a mobile facility for ships berthed farther from the main terminal, allowing the port to handle more than one cruise call at the same time. The terminal will serve cruise lines, shipping agents, passengers and port service providers, with services including passenger guidance, baggage control, gangway operations and related support.
The company said the development will follow energy-efficiency and environmental sustainability criteria. GPH did not disclose an investment amount.
Ferrol’s existing cruise setup
Ferrol’s current cruise facilities include two berths: the 229-meter Espigón Exterior, with a 9-meter depth, and the 454-meter Fernández Ladreda berth, with a 12.5-meter depth. The port provides dockside access and operational services including gangway handling, water supply, provisions, bunkering, garbage disposal and ship repair.
Cruise ships berth about 1 kilometer from Ferrol’s city center, with passengers able to reach the center on foot or by shuttle bus or taxi. The port operates 24 hours, requires pilotage, has tugboats available and says large cruise ships can be handled year-round.
Construction approvals come next
Global Ports Ferrol is due to submit the first-phase construction project to the port authority within three months. If the necessary approvals are granted, work is expected to begin within six months.
