Global Ports Holding has announced that following a public tender process, the Alicante Port Authority has granted preferred bidder status to a joint venture between GPH and Sepcan SL (“Sepcan”), to operate a 15-year cruise port concession in the Port of Alicante.
The consortium and the Alicante Port Authority will now work to agree on the terms of the concession agreement, and the consortium is currently expected to take over operations at the Alicante Cruise Port in the first half of 2023.
The Port of Alicante, with over 100,000 passengers annually, is one of the fastest-growing and most popular cruise destinations on Spain's east coast. The port boasts excellent air transport connections and is ideally located for inclusion in Mediterranean itineraries.
Stephen Xuereb, Chief Operating Officer of Global Ports Holding, said: “I am delighted that our consortium has been awarded preferred bidder status for the Alicante cruise port. We will now work closely with the Alicante Port Authority to successfully conclude the concession agreement and look forward to operating a world-class cruise port in Alicante that will deliver significant benefits for all stakeholders.”.
The Port of Alicante is currently undergoing investment by the Port Authority that will significantly improve the port and the surrounding area, integrating it into the fabric of the waterfront and the city as a whole. As part of the concession agreement, GPH plans to invest up to €2 million in the renovation and modernization of the cruise terminal.
Sepcan SL is a family-owned company from the Canary Islands that has been serving the cruise industry since 1936. Since 1998, it has focused on mooring/unmooring, baggage handling, ship provisioning, and passenger services. They also specialize in environmental services and marine pollution prevention. Global Ports Holding, for its part, is the world's largest independent cruise port operator, with a strong presence in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Asia-Pacific regions.
