Last month it was announced that this October PONANT’s ‘Le Commandant Charcot’ will turnaround at anchor in the Norwegian North Cape port of Lakselv.
This will be the port’s first turnaround operation and follows two calls in May from PONANT’s ‘Le Lyrial’, both overnight.
“This is very exciting for us in the Port of North Cape [PoNC] and we hope to have more of turnaround operations in the future from the North. PONANT is a new and regular visitor for us, having their first visit with ‘Le Bellot’ in March this year,” said Emmi Inch, PoNC’s Sustainability and Marketing Co-ordinator.
PoNC operates three cruise ports in northern Norway: Honningsvag/North Cape; Kjollefjord; and Lakselv, which is located at the bottom of the Porsangerfjord, the fourth longest fjord in Norway.
The ports form a gateway to Sami culture and way of life.
“The focus in Lakselv, which is up and coming, is on expedition size ships, small group activities and for those looking for something completely, new, authentic and untouched,” added Inch.
There is also the possibility to use a SeaWalk connection in Lakselv for ships of up to 300 m in length.
Some 171 cruise calls are expected this year in the North Cape region, with 74 having already been handled, mainly alongside but also at the anchorage. To date, ‘MSC Preziosa’ is the largest ship to have called.
Kjollefjord also receives daily calls from Hurtigruten and Havila on the Norwegian coastal route.
The port is planning to gain a sustainably certificate this year and has set a focus on long-term sustainable development, according to Inch, who added: “We at North Cape now have a big focus on sustainable development as the whole travel destination has qualified with a Norwegian quality label as a sustainable travel destination in April 2024 -Merket for Baerekraftig reisemal.”
PoNC has begun to install onshore power at the North berth and coastal voyage berth South, both in North Cape. To date, it has received NOK20 mill in funding for the NOK120 mill total project cost.
