14/08/2011 -Ports cry foul as liverpool seeks bigger share of cruise ship trade

摘要

Port owners fear Liverpool will get go-ahead to use its publicly funded cruise terminal for lucrative 'turnaround' journeys A war has broken out in the UK's £2bn cruise industry setting leading ports on a collision course with the government over a controversial bid by Liverpool for a bigger share. Port owners fear the government will give the go-ahead for Liverpool to use its publicly-funded cruise terminal for lucrative "turnaround" journeys, which they claim will give the Mersey city unfair advantage in a highly competitive market. At present liners, such as Cunard's flagship £453m Queen Mary 2, are only permitted to berth for "port-of-call" visits at the terminal, part of the city's iconic waterfront development, and built in 2007 using £20m grants, some from Europe.