13th Jun 2005 – Foremans provides buildings for 1st Floating Cruise Ship Terminal

Foremans Relocatable Building Systems, the UK’s primary supplier of pre-owned modular buildings, has completed construction of a new facility for the world’s first floating cruise ship terminal.

Two buildings for passenger and baggage handling were purpose-designed and supplied by Foremans for the Port of London Authority. These are part of a £1m investment by the authority to create a new terminal to attract more international cruise ships to start or finish their cruises in central London.

Modelled on an airport layout, the buildings incorporate on-site Immigration, Customs and the latest security screening, segregating passengers and their luggage in line with the new International Ship and Port Security codes.

The terminal was officially commissioned by Keith Hill MP, Minister of State for London, and was first used by the 43,000 tonne ship, The World of Residensea. Because it is a floating terminal, the Port of London Authority (PLA) will be able to use the new facilities for cruise ships moored at Greenwich and at Tower Bridge. This will allow ships up to 240m long to sail into the heart of London and carry out full passenger and baggage embarkation and disembarkation.

Up to 600 passengers per hour will pass through the 1,100 tonne terminal. Foremans craned the two buildings onto a 50m steel barge pontoon at the PLA’s marine depot at Denton Wharf, Gravesend. The terminal is powered by a ‘whisper-quiet’ generator on deck and its facilities include passenger check-in desks, two streams of security portals and electronic scanners for passenger and baggage screening, a waiting area, toilets and staff mess room. 

Commenting on this innovative scheme, Alan Cartwright, Marine Engineer at the Port of London Authority, said, “We are delighted with what has been achieved on this project in such a short timespan. We looked at a variety of building solutions and Foremans’ approach to off-site construction was identified as the best in terms of suitability for purpose, quality, appearance and cost.”

He added, “The terminal features good quality internal finishes that are attractive and comfortable for passengers, and externally both buildings will be easy to maintain in the marine environment. We are very pleased with the end result and have already had considerable praise from the industry, cruise ship operators and passengers.”

Foremans designed, supplied and fitted out both buildings in just six months from receipt of order and met the key target of the arrival of the first cruise ship in the Port of London’s season.

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