Harwich International Port has placed an order for a new passenger boarding bridge to provide improved passenger access between the Cruise Terminal building and the ever-increasing number of cruise vessels calling at the Port.

The new bridge, due for delivery in March 2009, will be manufactured by TEAM in Barcelona, and will allow embarkation and disembarkation in a secure and safe manner, unaffected by both weather conditions and tidal ranges.

Harwich International Port is established as the most Northerly major UK cruise port for turnaround calls and serves a number of markets, including North Cape, Baltic, Scandinavia, around-Britain and Transatlantic repositioning. In conjunction with East of England Tourism, the Port is promoting exciting new excursions to many of the overlooked local tourist attractions, in an effort to attract a greater number of visitors in future years.

The number of large cruise ships using the Port has steadily increased in recent years, and 2008 will see calls from ships ranging from 131 metres to 294 metres in length. The new bridge will be capable of operating from quay level up to an elevation of 10 metres, and will have a range along the quay of up to 25 metres.

Chris Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited, which owns Harwich International Port, said:

"As the European cruise market continues to grow, it is important that we are able to provide the best facilities available to our customers. The new boarding bridge is at the cutting edge of market innovation and technology, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this industry's development."

In the design parameters for the passenger boarding bridge set out by Harwich International Port, the capability to move along the whole quay was a crucial factor. Another very important feature was the adaptability of the passenger boarding bridge to connect 'intelligently' with the entrance of the terminal and the various entrances of the cruise ships. The cabin of the passenger boarding bridge will be equipped with a uniquely integrated hydraulic, telescopic, docking ramp that, when attached to the side of a cruise ship, automatically follows the vessel's movements and will immediately undock in the event of an emergency. The clearance under the bridge will allow continuous truck, equipment and supplies traffic on the quayside. The boarding bridge can serve any cruise ship calling at the Port, and is compliant with international safety and security standards.