Greenock Ocean Terminal passengers to hit 100k

GREENOCK Ocean Terminal expects to become the first Scottish port to welcome 100,000 passengers in 2015 following investment in facilities for cruise ships.

This year will also see the first direct sailing from Scotland to the Caribbean, provided by cruise operator Fred Olsen.

Greenock’s owner peel Ports said 56 ships are expected to call at the port this year, bringing almost 109,000 passengers – a 14 per cent increase on last year.

Over the past eight years passenger numbers calling at Greenock have more than quadrupled. In 2007 just 20,253 passengers passed through the port, compared to 92,678 in 2014.

The cruise terminal is due to welcome visits from popular ships such as the 4,610-passenger Royal Princess and Regal Princess.

The Queen Mary II liner will also call at Greenock as part of Cunard’s 175 year anniversary celebrations, reinforcing the terminals close historical links with the iconic cruise operator.