Global Ports Holding Plc, the largest independent cruise port operator in the world, announced that it had signed a 20-year concession agreement, between wholly owned subsidiary Zadar International Port Operations and Port Authority of Zadar for the operating rights of Gazenica cruise port (Zadar, Croatia).
The agreement follows the announcement by GPH on March 19, that Zadar's Port Authority had issued a decision to grant concession to Global Ports Holding subject to entering the final concession agreement.
Under the terms of the new agreement, Global Ports Holding will from Q4 2018, use the global expertise and operating model of the holding to manage all cruise port operations at port Gazenica over the concession's life. The concession includes an international ferry terminal, cruise ship passenger port and terminal services, Ro-Ro services, passenger and vehicles services. It also has a commercial area of 2,400 m2 (25,833 ft2), with leasable retail and office space.
The infrastructure of the cruise port includes a max draft of 13 metres and 1170 metres of total pier length to accommodate large ships. Last year, Zadar welcomed 137k cruisers, with scheduled visits for 2018 suggesting this will grow to nearly 150k passengers.
Gazenica cruise port is the 2nd new port GPH has signed for this year, increasing the number of ports the company operates to a total of 17 ports in 9 different countries.