IPH predicts cruise ship boost
Southampton-headquartered Independent Port Handling (IPH) is scheduled to handle some 450 cruise ship calls at UK ports in 2022. The group expects the increased volumes to restore business to pre-pandemic levels.
IPH includes valet parking specialist Cruise and Passengers Services (CPS), which operates services for Southampton, Liverpool, Portsmouth and Dover ports, with sister companies Southampton Cargo Handling (SCH) and Southern Maritime Services (SMS) carrying out stevedoring operations in Southampton, Liverpool and Portsmouth.
The company said that last year marked the return of cruising in the UK after an empty 2020, although the nature of cruising changed with intra-UK and shorter cruises taking the lion's share of business at major cruise ports.
The company has adapted its operations to handle the anticipated increase in passenger numbers and ensure health and safety regulations are implemented to minimise Covid-19 infection risk.
Director Lee Davis said:
“Our focus going forward is on expanding the range of cruise ship support that we can provide to produce a seamless offering including baggage handling, stevedoring, mooring and valet parking.”
SCH was ranked at number 206 in The Business Magazine's 2021 edition of the Solent 250 list of the biggest local businesses.
