It has not been built, but Singapore’s new cruise terminal is making waves.
The design :for the International Cruise Terminal at Marina South is being shown for the first time at the three-day Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention 2009 in the United States. It opened yesterday in Miami.
“The new cruise terminal’s nautical theme was chosen as a natural complement to the terminal’s function and setting ... the terminal’s rooftop depicting a modern interpretation of low rolling waves will provide a very welcoming sight to passengers as their cruise ship sails into Singapore,” said Mr Chew Tiong Heng, director for Destination Marketing and Cruise for the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
The terminal, which will double the present number of cruise berths, will add to the distinctive Singapore skyline that includes the Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer.
The terminal is designed by Bermello, Ajamil and Partners (BA) and RSP Architects Planners and Engineers.
The STB is committed to delivering this by the end of 2011, said Mr Chew.
Groundbreaking is expected to take place in the next quarter.
New cruise terminal to be ready by end-2011
Straits Times 19 Mar 09;
IN A nod to the Republic's ambition to become an international cruise centre, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) gave a glimpse of its new cruise terminal at a shipping event in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday which attracted industry bigwigs.
The new terminal will boast berths that can accommodate the world's largest ships.
It will help Singapore achieve its ambition of becoming a cruise hub for the region by doubling the handling capacity of the current HarbourFront terminal, which is already struggling to cope with the growing number of ships and people arriving there.
Worse, the existing terminal at HarbourFront has a height restriction of 52m, making it impossible for many bigger ships to dock there.
The new terminal at Marina South will not have any size or height restrictions.
However, it will be ready only by 2011, a year later than originally planned. No reason for the delay was given in STB's press statement.
Miami's Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention is an important annual event at which shipping industry movers and shakers meet to discuss the latest developments.
At the event, STB's director for destination marketing and cruises, Mr Chew Tiong Heng, said: 'Even amid the current economic climate, the STB is committed to delivering this key infrastructure by the end of 2011 to help position Singapore as a regional cruise hub.
'We believe the terminal's rooftop, depicting a modern interpretation of low rolling waves will be a very welcoming sight to passengers as their cruise ships sail into Singapore.'
The new cruise terminal was designed by a collaboration between United States-based Ajamil and Partners and local firm RSP Architects Planners and Engineers.
The ground-breaking for the project is expected to begin in the next quarter.