Global Ports Holding Plc and its local partner SEPCAN SL, together with the Port Authority of Las Palmas, have revealed their plans for their Las Palmas project at the Seatrade Cruise Med trade fair held in Malaga, Spain.
On August 22, Global Ports Holding announced the completion of the concession agreement for 3 ports in the Canary Islands: Las Palmas, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote Cruise Ports through Global Ports Canary Islands SL, an 80:20 joint venture between GPH and Sepcan SL.
GPCI will begin operating the three cruise ports in October 2022, ahead of the peak winter season, with more than 650 scheduled calls in Las Palmas, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura combined.
Global Ports Holding presented the Las Palmas Project Reveal at a cocktail reception on September 14th at their stand at Seatrade Cruise Med, attended by cruise industry executives. Álvaro Rodríguez Dapena, President of Puertos del Estado (State Ports Authority), Luis Ibarra, President of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, Mehmet Kutman, President and CEO of GPH, and Javier Rodríguez Sánchez, Regional Director of GPH West Med & Asia, officially presented the project during the event. GPH, together with Sepcan, unveiled its plans for the three ports in the Canary Islands, representing an investment of €40 million.
Álvaro Rodríguez Dapena, President of State Ports, said: “The cruise sector is one of the key traffic sectors in Spanish ports of general interest. It has consolidated over the years, and today we have some of the leading European ports for cruises, such as the Port of Las Palmas.”
For his part, Luis Ibarra, President of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, stated: “In the last decade, the Port Authority of Las Palmas has invested 45 million euros in infrastructure for cruise operations and plans to invest another 20 million euros by 2026. We have strengthened competitiveness and quality in the provision of port services for cruise ships.”.
Mehmet Kutman, President and CEO of GPH, emphasized the importance of the project for GPH: “Spain has always been an important country for GPH, as it marked a milestone in its expansion into the international cruise market. Together with our local partner, the Sepcan Group, we look forward to working in collaboration with the Port Authority of Las Palmas and all stakeholders on this project.”
Javier Rodríguez Sánchez, GPH's Regional Director for the Western Mediterranean and Asia, said: “Today, we are delighted to unveil our latest three-port project in the Canary Islands. The Las Palmas project is a testament to our ongoing sustainability efforts and demonstrates our commitment not only to social benefits but also to environmental stewardship. We look forward to enhancing the guest experience and cruise operations with local expertise and global knowledge in the Canary Islands, and we also hope to continue working on our expansion projects in the region.”
The project includes a 14,400 m² terminal built with sustainable recycled materials to achieve a low carbon footprint, enabling smoother homeporting and transit operations at one of Spain's busiest ports. Operational for the 2024 cruise season, the Las Palmas Cruise Port, capable of simultaneously accommodating the world's largest cruise ships, will feature new retail and dining options, a 40-bus capacity, and an improved operational infrastructure.
