UK and US ports will share best practices to strengthen their respective cruise markets
By
Rebecca Gibson |
The UK’s Port of Southampton and Florida’s PortMiami have signed a sister port agreement to enable them to collaborate and share best practices to strengthen the cruise market in both cities.
An International Sister Seaports Agreement was signed in Southampton by Alastair Welch, director of the Port of Southampton Director; Juan Kuryla, port director at PortMiami; and Carlos Gimenez, Mayor of Miami-Dade County.
“We are pleased to be officially linked with our friends at PortMiami and hope we can mutually benefit from lessons learned around successes seen on both sides,” said Welch.
Port of Southampton is one of Europe’s main turnaround ports, while PortMiami is dubbed the ‘cruise capital of the world.’
“Miami-Dade County and Southampton have much in common,” said Kuryla. “Our ports are both leaders in trade and tourism through our cargo and cruise activity. I look forward to growing our relationship as sister cities and sister ports through the strengthening of our cultural and commercial ties, and I anticipate the development of economic opportunities for us both.”
The mayors of both Miami and Southampton also signed a city twinning agreement.
“Like Southampton, Miami is a gateway to the world, and for hundreds of years people and goods have come to this confident and open maritime city to trade and visit,” said Christopher Hammond, leader of Southampton City Council. “Forging a new partnership with Miami is a natural step – linking up with another innovative global port city.”