Bouddica's Leaving Liverpool!

It has been announced that the port of Liverpool is set to lose the business of one of its most valued customers, Fred Olsen Cruises. So what has happened? Have Mr Olsen and the Port Authorities of Liverpool fallen out? Considering the £19 million pound Pier Head cruise terminal was only inaugurated in 2009 something must have drastically gone wrong?

Well the truth itself is not quite as exciting. The reason for the change is the terminal is out of bounds for ship turnarounds (embarking and disembarking passengers and supplies at the beginning and end of a voyage). As the facility was partly funded by the European Union, Liverpool's rival, Southampton, itself privately funded, successfully launched a fierce protest about unfair competition. As a result, Pier Head may only be used for day visits by ships and not for turnarounds. Good news for Southampton but bad for Liverpool.

Despite the above Fred Olsen have decided to remain loyal to Liverpool by using their alternative dock at the Langton Cruise terminal just down the road. This speaks volumes for Fred's as Langton Harbour is notorious for fast tides, high winds and unpredictable weather making getting ships getting in and out all the more complicated.

Liverpool City Council is still trying to persuade the government to get the rules changed about using the Pier Head Terminal for turnarounds but unfortunately not quickly enough for Fred Olsen, but I'm sure in a few years we will see the Boudicca at Liverpool again.