THIS month UK transport authorities have
granted permission for the Liverpool Cruise
Terminal to operate as a turnaround port,
pending the repayment of £8.8m as a lump-sum,
or a total of £12.6m if phased over 15 years.
Prior to this decision, restrictions put on the
port in 2007 after it received grants from the
UK Government and EU to develop its facilities,
prohibited Liverpool Cruise Terminal from
having turnarounds and thus potentially
poaching cruise trade from other ports.
However should Liverpool either repay the
lump sum of £8.8m or £12.6m over 15 years,
the Department for Transport has said it will
allow turnarounds.
Final removal of the grant condition by the
UK Department for Communities and Local
Government will be dependent on securing
State Aid clearance from the European
Commission, which will now be sought.
