Liverpool v Southampton port battle worsens

There’s been a long-running argument between Southampton and Liverpool about the way that Liverpool port is trying to cut into Southampton’s cruise ship activity. There are currently four separate cruise terminals that line the Southampton waterfront: the Mayflower, City, Ocean and Queen Elizabeth terminals. And they feel they are at threat.

The MP for Eastleigh, Hampshire - Chris Huhne is joining the fray – he says it’s unfair that Southampton’s commercially-funded port may have to fight for business against a Liverpool port funded by taxpayer’s money. The new Liverpool City Cruise Terminal was built using £20 million of public money and provided a landing stage for the new generation of megaliners. Now though, Liverpool’s port bosses want to turn this landing stage into a full-scaled turnaround terminal that can handled embarkation and disembarkation of complete cruises, not, as at present, simply day visits. If Liverpool gets its way, the port will have the same status and facilities as Southampton and could cut into the southern port’s business. In fact the port wants to have between 25 and 40 cruise ships embarking or disembarking in Liverpool every hear. But to achieve their aim, the Liverpool port company need the agreement of the Department of Transport as part of the £20 million was a £9 million EU grant and Mr Huhne wants the EU Competition Commission to hold an enquiry into the use of the money.