You're reading: Two cruise terminals to be created in Sevastopol, Yalta ports

Two cruise terminals are to be created in Sevastopol and Yalta ports to increase their passenger-handling capacity by several times, Head Sevastopol Maritime Merchant Port Serhiy Tarakanov has told reporters.

"A protocol of intention to create two cruise terminals on the basis of Sevastopol and Yalta ports has been signed with Royal Caribbean International, a leading cruise company. The company is ready to invest in the projects, but our legislation does not allow this as of today, so we propose to pass Yalta and Sevastopol ports to concession," Tarakanov said.

According to him, the port’s management is preparing to allocate selected terminals to concession.

"The property that is to be passed to concession has to be evaluated, and we are evaluating the facilities in the port," Tarakanov added.

The head of the port also said that the project developed by Royal Caribbean International is aimed at increasing passenger flow.

"This company owns one of the world’s largest liners. This is why the terminals will be constructed for passenger flows that will increase noticeably," Tarakanov said.

During the meeting with the media, the management of the ports and Sevastopol administration noted that Royal Caribbean International is a U.S.-Norwegian company with its headquarters in Miami (the United States) owned by its parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which controls 25.6% of the world’s cruise market.