Page 22: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2017)

Cruise Shipping: Port of Call be the worst since the 2004/2005 season, costs involved in cruise ship operations Concais will receive four transit ships nations in Brazil, and 13 other locations when only six cruise ships came to the in Brazil, in the 2014/2015 season, the for the ? rst time: Norwegian Sun (NCL), in South American countries, includ- country. In the face of the economic cri- total economic movement (direct and Crystal Serenity, Amadea and Fram ing Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Port sis, port infrastructure problems and the indirect) totaled $641,054 million. Of (Hurtigruten). In total, there will be 92 Stanley (in the Falkland Islands, which high cost associated with operating in this total, $339,049 million was gener- stops. Last season, the total number of is a British overseas posession). The

Brazil, cruise lines end up directing their ated by the expenses of companies with ships in transit had already been higher itineraries will have a minimum dura- vessels to other more competitive coun- bunker fuel, port taxes and other taxes, than those on regular stopovers. During tion of three nights and a maximum of tries. Of the ships Brazil lost from last purchases of supplies, commissioning of that period, there were 10 vessels in tran- 20 nights. Abremar (Brazilian Associa- season, two went to Cuba, the newest travel agencies and tour operators, wa- sit and seven regular vessels in Santos. tions of Maritime Cruises) points out to and much awaited destination for cruis- ter embarkation and garbage disposal, This year, there will be 15 ships, 11 in the high costs charged by Brazilian ports es, and one to China, a market that has salaries paid, in addition to marketing transit and only four regular. The fore- as one of the reasons for this drop in the grown considerably. However, even with and of? ce expenses, among others. The cast is for 455,741 passengers to travel number of cruise ships in Brazil. The these setbacks, optimism for the upcom- total expenses of cruise ships and crew through the Maritime Passenger Termi- search for increased competitiveness for ing season still prevails among local op- members in the cities and ports of em- nal (between boarding, debarkation and Brazil to attract more ship owners, is one erators and foreign cruise lines, but the barkation/debarkation and transit were transit) in Santos. However, there will be of the fronts of the Association’s work. sector understands the hurdles it faces in $302,101 million. a 42% drop in the number of passengers Abremar is debating with the Federal

Brazilian waters. In addition to the high Fifteen ships that will pass through the that will board and debark at the Santos Government, the Legislative and Judi- tax burden and port charges (about 40% Port of Santos passenger terminal (Con- quay, when compared to the previous ciary powers, and suppliers in the search more expensive than anywhere else in cais). Of these, four cruises are regular, season. In the 2015/2016 season, there for an environment with legal certainty, the world), one of the main complaints these being MSC Preziosa, MSC Mu- were 700,408 passengers. This season, costs and taxes similar to those found in is the low quality of port infrastructure sica, Costa Fascinosa, Costa Sovereign, the forecast is for 409,796 passengers to other cruise friendly countries. Italian at destinations which would be attrac- CVC and another 11 ships will only tran- board and debark in Santos. cruise line MSC, one of the traditional tive to cruise lines. As an example of the sit, one more than the last two seasons. The vessels will sail through 13 desti- players in the Brazilian cruise ship mar-

Photo: Claudio Paschoa 22 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • FEBRUARY 2017

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