[SINGAPORE] Sats announced on Friday (Apr 11) that terminal operator Sats-Creuers Cruise Services (SCCS) will lead refurbishment works for Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS).
The S$40 million upgrading works began in the first quarter of the year and will be carried out over nine months.
SCCS is a 60:40 joint venture with European cruise operator Creuers del Port de Barcelona, and the current terminal operator of MBCCS. Creuers is a unit of the world’s largest cruise-port operator Global Ports Holding.
The ground handler said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) also extended SCCS’ operator agreement for the cruise centre by eight years, with the option to extend for another two. The extension, which was formalised in December 2024 when both parties inked a revised management and operator agreement, could run from May 2027 to March 2037.
Bob Chi, chairman of SCCS, said: “The upgrade is timely as the facility gears up for more intensive operations in the future, including welcoming two mega cruise ships on dual operation.”
Ong Huey Hong, assistant chief executive for industry development group at STB, said the improvements come amid the cruise industry’s expansion and the global trend towards larger ships.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
“Singapore’s cruise industry is projected to grow steadily with year-round sailings, seasonal homeporting, and a robust calendar of transit calls from a diverse range of international cruise lines,” she added.
MBCCS will be able to handle higher passenger volumes, with the cruise centre’s capacity expected to grow from 6,800 to 11,700 passengers.
The refurbished cruise centre will have updated amenities and new facilities, including a new check-in area for passengers and a larger ground transport area with more bus parking bays and ride-hailing lots.
It will have more lounge facilities, larger seating areas for embarkation and disembarkation, as well as check-in stations that can concurrently accommodate two larger cruise ships.
The vacant land in front of MBCCS will be converted into a new ground transport area to improve passenger access to and from the terminal. It will increase the cruise centre’s number of coach bays and ride-hailing lots as well as add more pick-up and drop-off points for buses and passengers, to enhance transport accessibility.
Part of the current ground transport area will be transformed into a new check-in area to provide cruise ships that berth at MBCCS with a dedicated check-in area for embarking passengers during dual ship calls.
The upgrades will be carried out in phases to ensure minimal disruption and the cruise centre will continue to operate on ship call days, Sats said.
Sats shares closed Thursday 7.7 per cent or S$0.19 higher at S$2.65.
