PORTSMOUTH is leading the way with the recent opening of its “landmark” sustainable passenger terminal (pictured). Guests from Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Discovery were the first to be welcomed to the carbon neutral terminal, which has spent 18 months being constructed. The facility has been made possible through 11.25 million...
PORTSMOUTH is leading the way with the recent opening of its “landmark” sustainable passenger terminal (pictured).
Guests from Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Discovery were the first to be welcomed to the carbon neutral terminal, which has spent 18 months being constructed.
The facility has been made possible through 11.25 million of funding from the Government of the United Kingdom to transform Portsmouth’s cruise & tourism economy.
Cutting-edge environmental engineering has been at the forefront of development plans, with the port the first in the United Kingdom to use sea water to heat and cool the building.
Other environmental features include wind and solar technology, and internal and external living walls to help purify the air.
These elements mean the building will generate more energy than it consumes, eventually moving from net carbon neutral to carbon positive.
The new terminal has also been built to accommodate a growth in cruise ships coming to the port, as Portsmouth expects to receive more than 100 calls next year, with forecasts predicting an additional 250,000 passengers per year.
Following a major berth extension, coupled with the new terminal, the port is now in a position to handle ships up to 300 metres in length and the additional passenger capacity such vessels carry.
The design also features a walkway to the existing terminal; an exclusive lounge area for passengers; and a sky garden, a public viewing space to watch port activity.
“This terminal transformation follows a number of significant infrastructure projects to position Portsmouth as not only one of the UK’s leading ports, but a global one too,” Portsmouth International Port Director Mike Sellers said.
