Busan Port to enter interport era for cruise liners in 2016

Busan Port Authority (BPA, President Lim Ki-tack) stated that Busan Port will enter the era of cruise vessel interports. From April 2016, Busan Port will no longer be just a port where international cruise passengers pass through quickly. The port will become a port where passengers can board.

BPA has been discussing measures that will enable passengers to board at Busan Port with the world's largest cruise company, Carnival Corporation's Costa Cruises since January. As a result, Busan Port will accommodate cruise ships 19 times starting from April 2016 and passengers can also board at Busan Port.
Such factors have a significant meaning for Busan Port. In addition, the port used to be a port of call where passengers only toured the city for 8 hours then left for other ports. Busan Port, however, will become an interport and it is expected to have tremendous ripple effects on the local economy.

Costa Cruises will operate the 75,000 t class < Costa Victoria > which can accommodate approximately 2,000 passengers. The cruise will call at 4 Japanese ports including Fukuoka and Sakaiminato and Busan Port regularly at 5-day intervals.

President Lim said, "Not only Busan Port Authority, but also industries, academic circles, research institutions, MOF, and Busan city have devoted themselves to developing Busan Port, opened in 1876, into a port that creates employment and various added value from a cargo-oriented port. Thanks to the concerted efforts, Busan Port has grown into an international cruise port and has achieved fruitful results in operating an International Ship Chandling Center, invigorating the Distripark logistics project, and port related industries. Busan Port expects to contribute to the local economy by creating added value and jobs through attracting cruise ships regularly as the first interport in the nation.

< Korea Shipping Gazette >