New Operator for Greenock Cruise Port

Global Ports Holding Ltd (GPH), the world’s largest cruise port operator, has signed a 50-year lease agreement with Clydeport Operations Ltd, a subsidiary of Peel Ports Group, to operate Greenock Cruise Port.

The deal is another landmark in the continued success of Greenock Cruise Port, with record breaking calls and growing numbers of passengers travelling to Inverclyde each year. In 2024 alone, the terminal welcomed over 80 cruise ships from across the globe, with numbers expected to rise further in 2025 and beyond.

Over recent years, Greenock has hosted some of the world’s largest cruise vessels, including the giant ‘Anthem of the Seas’, capable of carrying over 5,000 passengers and the ‘Disney Dream’, with 18 decks and an onboard water-coaster. Under the operation of Peel Ports Group, many more cruise vessels have safely navigated through the Clyde, bringing thousands of tourists eager to explore the local region and providing a much needed boost to the local economy.

In 2023, the £20m visitor centre opened. The project, led by Inverclyde Council, formed part of the £1bn Glasgow City Region City Deal funded by the Scottish and UK governments, with contributions from Peel Ports Group and the George Wyllie Foundation via Dunard Fund.

Building on the momentum, and to further drive Greenock as a destination of choice, Global Ports Holding (GPH) will now take over the operation of the cruise port to enhance opportunities and attract more passengers from across the globe. Following the addition of Liverpool Cruise Port in April 2024, the inclusion of Greenock further expands the company’s growing footprint in Northern Europe.

Stephen Xuereb, Chief Operating Officer of Global Ports Holding, commented:
“Greenock Cruise Port is an important addition to our network, strengthening our presence in Northern Europe. Our priority is to enhance operational efficiency and the passenger experience while working closely with local stakeholders to unlock the port’s full potential. We look forward to bringing our expertise to Greenock and contributing to its long-term success.”.

Mehmet Kutman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Ports Holding, commented: We are delighted to welcome Greenock Cruise Port into the Global Ports Holding network as our first port in Scotland. This marks an exciting milestone in our UK expansion, reinforcing our commitment to growing cruise tourism across the region. Scotland is a world-renowned destination, and we look forward to working closely with local stakeholders to enhance Greenock’s cruise facilities, drive sustainable growth, and deliver exceptional experiences for cruise passengers visiting this remarkable country.”

David Huck, Chief Operating Officer at Peel Ports Group, added: “Today’s announcement is another huge milestone for the transformation of Greenock Cruise Port and further signifies the West Coast of Scotland’s status as a UK destination of choice. Since the cruise facility opened, we’ve welcomed some of the biggest ships from across the globe into the Clyde, bringing thousands of tourists to the area, and the terminal plays an increasingly important role in the local economy.

This historic agreement with Global Ports Holding is testament to the work our teams, together with Inverclyde Council, have done to position Greenock firmly on the map. We are very proud of that achievement and look forward to seeing Greenock Cruise Port go from strength to strength under GPH’s management and investment plans.”

Councillor Michael McCormick, Inverclyde Council’s convener of environment and regeneration, said: ‘We’re excited to welcome Global Ports Holding to Inverclyde and to the first-class Greenock Cruise Port visitor centre. The fact that this is their first venture into Scotland is a ringing endorsement for Greenock, Inverclyde and the terminal building. They are the world’s largest cruise port operator with a huge amount of experience and expertise to build on the excellent work done by our partners at Peel Ports Group to grow and develop the cruise ship market in Inverclyde even further. Global Ports Holding’s mission is to enhance cruise operations and attract more passengers while aiming to stimulate economic growth for the local community and create new business opportunities in the wider Glasgow City Region. This complements our own aims and ambitions of creating opportunities, encouraging inward investment in the area, and ultimately making Inverclyde an even better place to live, work, visit, and do business.”

Martin McCluskey, MP for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West, said: “This is an incredibly exciting announcement for Greenock. This long term 50-year commitment is a real vote of confidence in our area and our future as a cruise destination. I have been clear since I was elected that the cruise industry offers a real opportunity for economic growth in our area, and that my priority would be bringing more of those opportunities here. I was pleased to meet with Global Ports Holding this week in Parliament and to welcome this exciting announcement. Global Ports Holding run over 30 cruise ports around the world – including world leading ports in the Bahamas, Barcelona, Liverpool, Venice and Singapore. I have already discussed with the company their plans to ensure more opportunities flow to local people and local businesses. My cruise tourism roundtable a few weeks ago showed the appetite of local businesses to work with the industry and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with local traders and the cruise industry to make the most of this opportunity.”

About Peel Ports Group

Peel Ports Group is the UK’s second largest port operator, owning and operating six of the UK’s most important ports (Liverpool, Heysham, Manchester Ship Canal, Medway (Sheerness / Chatham), Clydeport and Great Yarmouth). It also operates a container terminal in Dublin and owns BG Freight Line, which provides short sea container services between the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe and Peel Ports Logistics, one of the UK’s leading shipping and freight forwarders.

Peel Ports handles approximately 70 million tonnes of cargo every year. 14% of the total UK major ports traffic flows through ports operated by the Group. Headquartered in Liverpool, it employs around 2,000 staff.

About Global Ports Holding

Global Ports Holding (GPH) is the world’s largest cruise port operator with an established presence in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Asia-Pacific regions. Established in 2004 as an independent cruise port operator, GPH holds a unique position in the cruise port landscape as the world’s largest & leading cruise port brand. GPH operates 33 cruise ports in 21 countries, providing services for over 20 million cruise passengers annually. For more information, please visit: www.globalportsholding.com or follow us on LinkedIn