20 May 2019
Solent Stevedores has recently signed a five-year deal with Carnival UK, one of four operating companies with the world’s largest cruise company Carnival Corporation & plc, that includes P&O Cruises and Cunard Line.
The deal will see Solent Stevedores continue to provide in-port stevedoring and turnaround services to around 300 Carnival Corporation branded ships calling at the Port of Southampton each year until 2024, further establishing the company’s reputation as a leading service provider in the cruise industry.
The services provided will include mooring, baggage handling, porterage and loading of ships stores and provisions to the vessels. In addition, the deal will incorporate the arrival of P&O Cruises new LNG-powered ship Iona, launching in May 2020, the sister ship (yet to be named) in 2022, as well as Cunard’s new ship (yet to be named) in 2023.
Commenting on the new deal, Tom Dynes, Operations Director at Solent Stevedores said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to have extended our agreement with Carnival UK. Their commitment to us for five years is a huge vote of confidence to our team, which numbers up to 200 locally employed staff on busy days, who always strive to provide our customers with outstanding service. We are also pleased to be continuing our significant re-investment in the business, including low emission handling equipment, which is vital if we are to continue meet the operational demands of the cruise ships of the future. Carnival UK has been a fantastic partner to do business with over the last nine years and we are very much looking forward to this excellent relationship continuing.”
P&O Cruises and Cunard Vice President, Port and Shore Operations Carnival UK Maritime, Steven Young said:
“We are very pleased to be continuing our relationship with Solent Stevedores in Southampton, who have demonstrated time and again their commitment to our business success with their efficient and flexible approach to the key services they provide for us.”
Solent Stevedores’ cruise business has grown significantly in recent years and the company now handles 86% of the cruise vessels calling to the Port of Southampton – Northern Europe’s busiest Turnaround Port.
The 2019 cruise season is already well underway and it is expected that, during 2019, Solent Stevedores will provide in-port services to some 400 cruise ships, 1.8 million cruise passengers, handle 2.7 million suitcases, and load in excess of 100,000 tonnes of ships’ stores, cementing the company’s position as one of top cruise stevedoring suppliers globally.