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<title>Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd. Cruise in Taiwan RSS - Hot News</title>
<link>https://</link> 
<description>Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd. Cruise in Taiwan RSS - Hot News</description> 
<copyright>Copyright 2021</copyright> 
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<title>Making Impressive Headway against Strong Headwinds: TIPC’s 2026 Game Plan Aims to Build Long-Term Sustainability by Strengthening Port Operations, Fueling Tourism, and Enhancing Smart Management</title>
<link>https://cruise.twport.com.tw//News-Content.aspx?l=2&amp;nid=10750&amp;listid=2618&amp;p=1&amp;hid=0&amp;q=&amp;s_date=&amp;e_date=&amp;fromCnt=0</link>
<description><![CDATA[The sluggish global economy, ongoing supply chain restructuring, and rise in geopolitical risks stress-tested the capabilities and resilience of the global shipping sector in 2025. Over the just-finished year, Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) realized steady, stable growth in its core business and continued progress in efforts related to business diversification and smart sustainability. Total revenues for the port group topped NT$23.53 billion in 2025, reaching an all-time high. Furthermore, the 690 million revenue tons (R/T) of total cargo throughput and 13.55 million TEU of containers handled through Taiwan’s international commercial ports this past year demonstrates the critical role played by TIPC in bolstering the resilience of the nation’s maritime and shipping sector. In terms of capital investments and construction, the 18 major project bids completed by TIPC in 2025 will bring in some NT$8.903 billion in new investment to TIPC ports in projects covering container shipping, offshore wind power, the green energy sector, and warehouse / logistics. Concurrently, in line with the national five year planning scheme, TIPC is steadily improving infrastructures and supporting facilities across the port group, paving the way for handling significantly larger commercial vessels, setting up emerging industry operations within TIPC ports, and supporting national energy transformation efforts as well as fueling expansion in port-service and industrial-carrying capacities. The cruise ship and travel markets continued their post-pandemic rebound. Benefitting from cruise ship call incentives and discounts, overseas marketing campaigns, and active cooperation with cruise lines, TIPC ports recorded 567 international cruise ship visits carrying some 1.15 million passengers in 2025, achieving numbers on par with or better than pre-pandemic numbers. Port of Keelung has successfully secured new homeport agreements with several new international cruise lines, while Port of Kaohsiung’s new state-of-the-art Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal, beyond setting a new high bar for cruise passenger service and reception facilities, has become the centerpiece attraction for Kaohsiung City waterfront tourism and a powerful engine of port-city prosperity. In terms of digital and smart-port transformation, TIPC launched a number of key initiatives under the Trans-SMART 2.0+ Plan in 2025 covering port security monitoring, wharf operations management, port business management, and innovation trials. Operations Command &amp;amp; Control Platform, integrating data on vessels, cargo, weather, and operations, instituted a “central nervous system” that, in concert with AI-driven vessel image detection, port bridge monitoring systems, and improvements to critical wharf infrastructures, has facilitated faster decision-making and overall port resilience, ensuring the stability of everyday port logistics. In the realm of sustainability, all seven international commercial ports under TIPC administration currently operate under ecoport certification, with the ports of Keelung, Suao, Taichung, and Anping passing all required recertification procedures in 2025. Also, work to install solar power collection and storage facilities interlinked via a smart microgrid at Port of Kaohsiung was completed last year. Furthermore, TIPC has continued to upgrade environmental resilience and sustainable management efficiency at all of its ports via the installation of energy-saving upgrades and enhancements, implementation of greenhouse gas inventories, and promotion of carbon reduction measures in ongoing TIPC engineering projects. These and other TIPC sustainability initiatives have been recognized in three consecutive Taiwan Corporate Sustainability (TCS) gold awards for sustainability reporting and the 2025 TCS category award for transparency and integrity leadership, underscoring the significant strides made in governance integrity, information transparency, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility. Since taking the helm, TIPC Chairman Yung-hui Chou’s leadership of TIPC has centered on achieving the medium-term goals of strengthening port operations, fueling tourism, and enhancing smart management to build long-term sustainability, while emphasizing the importance of pursuing a well-balanced development strategy for the entire port group. This approach reflects the need to, on one hand, stabilize and strengthen TIPC’s core business while enhancing overall operational efficiencies and, on the other hand, pursue key digital transformation and sustainability objectives as well as opportunities for cooperation with local government, industry, and academic institutions to elevate ports beyond hubs of trade into incubators of industry innovation / enhancement and port-city development. In 2026, TIPC will continue ongoing efforts to enhance critical infrastructure and services, improve roadway and other links with inland transportation networks, upgrade the quality of cruise passenger and port tourism services, and expand the implementation of smart systems and AI-enhanced applications. Also, TIPC will pursue advanced energy and carbon-reduction strategies to keep all of its subsidiary ports in close alignment with international sustainability trends as well as a subsidiary specialization strategy designed to ensure each TIPC subsidiary port has a unique role to play in the overall TIPC strategic blueprint. Finally, TIPC will continue to enhance the international competitiveness of its port group as part of national efforts to enhance Taiwan’s global profile and visibility. Provided by：Planning and Development Dept., TIPC Contact Person：Shu-hui Tsai, Senior Researcher Telephone No.：886-7-2136921 E-mail Address：T02063@twport.com.tw Image 1. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sun at berth at Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal on December 2nd, 2025 Image 2. Concurrent visits by Star Navigator (bottom left) and MSC Bellissima (upper right) to Port of Keelung on May 23rd, 2025 Image 3. Port of Kaohsiung’s 7th Container Terminal ]]></description>
<PubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:20:00 GMT+08:00</PubDate>
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<title>Led by a 40% Jump in Foreign Passenger Arrivals, Port of Keelung’s Cruise Ship Business Sets an Impressive Four All-Time Records in 2025</title>
<link>https://cruise.twport.com.tw//News-Content.aspx?l=2&amp;nid=10747&amp;listid=2618&amp;p=1&amp;hid=0&amp;q=&amp;s_date=&amp;e_date=&amp;fromCnt=0</link>
<description><![CDATA[Port of Keelung welcomed 219 cruise ship calls and handled a record-breaking 993,000 international cruise passengers in 2025. All-time records were also set last year for foreign (non-Taiwanese) passengers, fly-cruise passengers, and cruise ship maiden visits handled at the port, making 2025 a truly banner year for northern Taiwan’s maritime gateway. In terms of international cruise ship passenger numbers, the 993,000 welcomed in 2025 mark a hefty 26.2% increase from the 787,000 welcomed in 2024 and a nice 4.9% bump over the previous all-time high of 946,000 welcomed in 2019, just before the pandemic. Primary credit for the large increase last year goes to the return to Keelung of StarCruises, which made 79 cruise ship calls bringing a total of 312,000 passengers. Other key contributors include MSC Cruises, which deployed East Asia’s largest cruise liner to the port in 2025 and paid 30 calls at Keelung with a total of 229,000 passengers, and Costa Cruises, which paid 42 calls at Keelung with a total of 229,000 passengers. Together, these three cruise lines accounted for over 81.6% of cruise market activity at the port last year. Looking ahead, StarCruises and MSC Cruises have already announced plans to further raise their Keelung call numbers in 2026, fueling anticipation of a continuing upward growth trend in this market through the foreseeable future. With regard to foreign passenger numbers, Port of Keelung processed a record-breaking 376,000 non-Taiwanese passengers in 2025. This eye-opening 41.3% increase over the also-record-breaking 266,000 processed just the previous year (2024) pushed overall passenger numbers to an all-time high as well. Primary credit for this goes to the rise in cruise ship port-of-call visits, which were up by 27 over the previous year and accounted for 88,000 additional passengers. Of note, the 7 charter cruises organized by Costa Cruises between Keelung and Korea in 2025 brought some 31,000 Korean passengers to enjoy the touristic allures of northern Taiwan. These voyages increased Korea’s share in overall cruise passenger arrivals from 2.9% in 2024 to 11.4% in 2025 (note: the top four cruise passenger nationalities in 2025 were - Japanese: 32.1%, American: 16%, Korean: 11.4%, and German: 6.5%). In addition, the 61,000 foreign tourists participating in Taiwan fly-cruise vacations in 2025 more than doubled the previous all-time record of 38,000 set in 2018. Norwegian Cruise Line’s 7 Keelung homeport voyages account for most of this number (44.4%), carrying 27,000 fly-cruise passengers, all of whom were foreign passport holders. Taiwan’s cruise ship market continues to benefit from TIPC’s long-running strategic promotion and marketing efforts. In 2025, a record-breaking 19 cruise ships registered maiden visits to Port of Keelung. Even more noteworthy, four cruise lines that had never previously called in Taiwan made their historic first calls at Keelung in 2025. These included the adventure operator Scenic Cruises, luxury operator Mitsui Ocean Cruises, Korea’s Duwon Cruise &amp;amp; Ferry Co., Ltd., and residence cruise operator Villa Vie. Remarkably, Villa Vie Odyssey’s four-day tie-up at Keelung marked the longest multiday stay ever by a cruise ship in Taiwan - hinting at the significant untapped potential for longer-stay, in-depth tourism experiences targeting international passengers. After completing its maiden visit, Mitsui Ocean Fuji quickly announced Keelung homeport operations and opened new cruise departures from the port. Overall, 2025 saw Port of Keelung’s cruise market grow in terms of both volume and diversity, pointing toward continued healthy growth and stable operations through the coming years. Beyond working to expand the number and variety of cruise ship visits, TIPC is steadily working to enhance the experience of passengers visiting and passing through Taiwan’s major ports. Plans are underway this year (2026) to subsidize the purchase and installation of four additional e-gates at the National Immigration Agency’s facility inside Keelung West Passenger Terminal. This will double the number of e-gates at the terminal to eight, facilitating the faster, more-efficient processing of in- and outbound passengers. Also, with cruise companies such as MSC Cruises and StarCruises now adding new Keelung homeport voyages during the once-slow winter cruise season, this year, Port of Keelung will be testing the feasibility of installing warm-water taps in West Passenger Terminal restrooms for user comfort during northern Taiwan’s regularly damp and chilly winter months. Provided by：Stevedoring and Warehousing Dept., Port of Keelung, TIPC Contact Person：Huai-hsuan Liu, Manager Telephone No.：886-2-2420-6421 E-mail Address：sharon06@twport.com.tw Image 1. Concurrent visits by Norwegian Sky (left) and Costa Serena (right) to Port of Keelung on January 26th, 2025 Image 2. Concurrent visits by Star Navigator (bottom left) and MSC Bellissima (upper right) to Port of Keelung on May 23rd, 2025 ]]></description>
<PubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:19:00 GMT+08:00</PubDate>
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<title>With Taiwan’s Cruise Industry Profile Rising, TIPC Welcomes Nine-Day Visit of Representatives from Two Major Cruise Lines</title>
<link>https://cruise.twport.com.tw//News-Content.aspx?l=2&amp;nid=10606&amp;listid=2618&amp;p=1&amp;hid=0&amp;q=&amp;s_date=&amp;e_date=&amp;fromCnt=0</link>
<description><![CDATA[As part of ongoing efforts to boost Taiwan’s profile and attractiveness in the Asia-Pacific cruise market, Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) maintains an open invitation for cruise ship companies to visit TIPC port facilities and investigate the country’s touristic allures. On November 1st, TIPC was honored to welcome a delegation from two Carnival Corporation cruise lines, Holland America Line and Seabourn, for a nine-day, eight-night FAM Trip. The TIPC-organized itinerary included stops at scenic and cultural attractions nationwide, visits to TIPC port facilities, introductions to passenger services and tourism resources, and discussions regarding port-of-call visits to the nation in the future. VIP guests in the delegation included Holland America Travel Product Manager Madeleine Ninness, Holland America Deployment &amp;amp; Itinerary Planning Manager Chris Bacon, and Seabourn Manager for Deployment Planning &amp;amp; Analysis Jeff Shieh. All three play key roles in their respective companies with regard to itinerary planning and implementation, market analysis, and in-port tourism planning and development, and are influential in new route development in Asia. TIPC notes that all major cruise ship companies have been stepping up planning and deployment activities in the East Asia market in recent years. Holland America and Seabourn are significant players in this industry with strong bases of customer support and products ranging from premium / luxury cruise packages to mainstream cruise offerings. The strong post-pandemic return of the cruise vacation market in East Asia has encouraged cruise ship companies to be bullish on continued growth in regional routes and itineraries, especially in the area of in-depth / unique experience opportunities at less-frequented ports-of-call. The visit schedule for the current delegation was arranged by TIPC with assistance from the national Tourism Administration. The visit itinerary, which began in Taipei City, included stops at TIPC’s main cruise / passenger ports at Tainan, Kaohsiung, the Penghu Archipelago, Taichung, Hualien and Keelung, where the delegates were introduced to passenger and cruise-ship handling facilities, passenger services, and nearby tourism highlights, providing a comprehensive overview of port capabilities and Taiwan’s strong touristic potential. One of the delegates shared that, “We are always looking on behalf of our passengers for ports offering diverse cultural experiences and local charm. This FAM Trip helps us better understand the diversity available here in Taiwan and the unique vibe that each port and its city have. It’s left quite an impression. With the strong level of safety and convenience you have here as well, we will be continuing to increase our calls at Taiwan ports going forward.” TIPC recognizes the robust demand from cruise Lines for new destinations and passenger experiences to enrich and expand their portfolio of Asian cruise itineraries. All TIPC ports have both the infrastructure and appeal necessary to support cruise industry growth needs. Port of Taichung is centrally located, the Ports of Kaohsiung and Keelung are both easily added stops, and the completion of Wharf 1 at Penghu (Magong) Port now makes the archipelago accessible even to large international cruise ships. TIPC President Chin-jung Wang recently remarked that, “helping cruise Lines really understand Taiwan’s port facilities and the potential for tourism through in-country delegations like this is a critical step in promoting our international port-of-call business. In the future, we will continue working with the Tourism Administration and local governments to promote inbound tourism and attract new business, increase international cruise ship calls at Taiwan ports, and build Taiwan into Asia’s rising star for in-depth, memorable cruise travel experiences.” The success of the 9-day visit by Holland America and Seabourn itinerary was achieved through a multi-party effort, with TIPC making the invitations and organizing the itinerary, the Tourism Administration assisting with site-visit arrangements, and city and county government administrations in Keelung, Kaohsiung, Hualien and Tainan providing tourism materials and introductions to area attractions. Efforts such as this highlight the commitment of Taiwan, from the highest to lowest levels of government, to expand the country’s connections to, and position within, the international cruise travel market. Provided by：Harbor Operation Management Dept., TIPC Contact Person：Ta-wei Wu, Manager Telephone No.：886-7-521900#3350 E-mail Address：T03159@twport.com.tw Image 1. Seabourn Manager for Deployment Planning &amp;amp; Analysis Jeff Shieh (3rd from left), Holland America Travel Product Manager Madeleine Ninness (5th from left), Holland America Deployment &amp;amp; Itinerary Planning Manager Chris Bacon (6th from left), and others tour Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal, welcomed by TIPC President Chin-jung Wang (4th from left) and representatives of Kaohsiung City Image 2. Holland America Travel Product Manager Madeleine Ninness (4th from left), Seabourn Manager for Deployment Planning &amp;amp; Analysis Jeff Shieh (5th from left), Holland America Deployment &amp;amp; Itinerary Planning Manager Chris Bacon (3rd from right), and other delegates visit an indigo dyeing experience workshop Image 3. Cruise delegation visiting an indigenous village in Hualien County during their TIPC-arranged itinerary ]]></description>
<PubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2025 19:10:00 GMT+08:00</PubDate>
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<title>After Maiden Call on Kaohsiung, StarCruises’ Star Navigator Set to Launch an 11-Week Schedule of Homeport Voyages</title>
<link>https://cruise.twport.com.tw//News-Content.aspx?l=2&amp;nid=10605&amp;listid=2618&amp;p=1&amp;hid=0&amp;q=&amp;s_date=&amp;e_date=&amp;fromCnt=0</link>
<description><![CDATA[This year (2025), StarCruises has made a memorable splash by scheduling two maiden voyages to Port of Kaohsiung, with Star Voyager making its very first call at the port on June 30th (ending its 2025 schedule on October 30th) and Star Navigator scheduled to pay its maiden visit to the port on November 16th. Star Navigator’s arrival will mark the seventh maiden visit by a cruise ship to Port of Kaohsiung this year and, notably, the only one to maintain home port operations at Kaohsiung afterward. Star Navigator will run home port voyages out of Kaohsiung from November 16th through January 30th of next year (2026). Twice-weekly (3-day/2-night and 6-day/5-night) voyage itineraries are scheduled, with departures set for Fridays and Sundays. Taiwanese are the target market, with the northbound itinerary set to call at Naha, Miyako Island, and Ishigaki Island in Japan and southbound itineraries calling at either Laoag, Coron Island, and Puerto Princesa / Boracay in the Philippines or Hạ Long Bay and Da Nang in Vietnam. A total of 23 voyages (13 in 2025 and 10 in 2026) have been scheduled. Star Navigator weighs in at 75,000 gross tons, is 269m in length, has a beam width of 32m, and accommodates up to 1,856 passengers. Many of the crew are proficient in Mandarin, making for easy communication throughout the trip. Onboard facilities include multiple theme restaurants serving up the flavors of the world as well as familiar Taiwanese dishes. There are also plenty of entertainment facilities and activities as well as regular stage performances of Nanta, the popular Korean comedy and culinary extravaganza. Star Navigator passengers departing on either a Friday or Sunday between November 16th and January 30th are requested to abide by the arrival check-in time and procedures provided by their travel agency. Checked luggage drop-off and passenger check-in will be handled for all passengers at No. 5, Haibian Road, Lingya District, Kaohsiung City. Passengers (as well as friends / well-wishers) arriving by taxi, bus, etc. are asked to disembark at Port of Kaohsiung Wharf 18 (at the corner of Yongping and Haibian Roads). Those driving themselves to the port are requested to park in the terminal’s self-pay lot. Returning passengers (Friday or Sunday between November 21st and February 1st) who have arranged pickup (friends, taxis, buses, etc.) are also asked to make the connection at Wharf 18 (at the corner of Yongping and Haibian Roads) and to follow staff instructions to help reduce congestion and smooth the journey onward. To help streamline passenger flows and departure / arrival procedures, on Fridays and Sundays during this period (Nov. 16th - Feb. 1st) traffic control measures will be enforced in all outdoor areas adjacent to the ground floor of Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal. Also, cruise passenger vehicles will have priority access to the terminal’s underground lot, with drivers requested to have their passenger ticket / documentation ready to show at the entrance. Other visitors to the terminal during this period wanting to view the Star Navigator in port from the 3rd floor open-air Rhythm of the Sea Plaza are encouraged to make use of public transportation (e.g., the LRT system, city bus [Yellow-1 route]) and follow the directions posted on site. Provided by：Port Business Dept., Port of Kaohsiung, TIPC Contact Person：Selena Su, Manager Telephone No.：886-7-5219000#5911 E-mail Address：su17@twport.com.tw Image 1. StarCruises’ Star Navigator scheduled to make Port of Kaohsiung maiden call on November 16th (2025) for historic home port voyage (image provided by StarCruises) Image 2. Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal route organized for departing passengers scheduled for Friday and Sunday (Nov. 16 - Jan. 30) cruise voyages aboard the Star Navigator Image 3. Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal route organized for arriving passengers returning (Nov. 21 - Feb. 1) from Friday and Sunday cruise voyages aboard the Star Navigator ]]></description>
<PubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2025 19:07:00 GMT+08:00</PubDate>
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<title>Port of Keelung Set to Welcome Maiden Visit by Luxury Cruise Ship Silver Moon, Showing the Success of Cruise Market Profile Diversification Efforts</title>
<link>https://cruise.twport.com.tw//News-Content.aspx?l=2&amp;nid=10451&amp;listid=2618&amp;p=1&amp;hid=0&amp;q=&amp;s_date=&amp;e_date=&amp;fromCnt=0</link>
<description><![CDATA[Port of Keelung is preparing to welcome the maiden visit on October 19th (2025) of the luxury liner Silver Moon. Silver Moon is owned and operated by Silversea Cruises, the premier luxury cruise line in the Royal Caribbean Group, the world’s second-largest cruise vacation company. Arrangements have been made to expeditiously process the anticipated 500 European and American passengers on board so they may fully enjoy their time in Taiwan. The visit by Silver Moon follows the earlier maiden arrival this year in March of the Silver Nova, and marks the second visit in just half a year of a luxury Silversea Cruises liner to Keelung. Also, Silver Moon’s visit will mark the 18th maiden cruise ship call on Keelung Port this year. To mark the occasion, Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) will welcome the Silver Moon into port with a water salute. Also, TIPC will exchange commemorative gifts with ship officers in port, with TIPC Senior Researcher Wei-chien Chang scheduled to board the Silver Moon and make the presentation on the company’s behalf. Passage on the Silver Moon’s current 15-night luxury cruise, which originated in Tokyo and will end in Singapore, is priced at a formidable NT$300,000/person. Even more heartening than the news that cruise passenger arrivals in Keelung this year are expected to close in on pre-pandemic numbers is news that cruise ship and passenger profiles have also more-or-less recovered to what they were in the years just prior to the pandemic. This year, for example, of the 40 cruise ships that will together make a total of 219 calls at Port of Keelung, 20 (50%) made their maiden visit to the port just this year - a new all-time record. This reflects the strongly bullish attitude of cruise ship companies toward the East Asia market, with most major lines already aggressively assigning additional new ships to the Asian theater. Prior to the pandemic, the ratio of cruise ships visiting Keelung was: contemporary (90.6%), premium (2.7%), luxury (5.7%), and expedition (1.0%). This year, the share of contemporary cruises is expected to decline to 78.08%, while premium, luxury, and expedition are all expected to increase, respectively, to 7.76%, 12.79%, and 1.37%. This trend underscores not only the increasing diversity in cruise ships calling at Keelung but also the growing number of elite / seasoned cruise passengers visiting Taiwan, giving broad-based, positive momentum to the market in support of sustainable, long-term growth. To continue attracting luxury cruise ships to Keelung, Port of Keelung officials are working closely with Keelung, Taipei, and New Taipei administrations to develop and support unique in-depth local tour activities. Furthermore, TIPC has been inviting cruise company representatives to Taiwan for special, customized local experience programs. Premier industry brands including Coral Expeditions Australia, Windstar Cruises, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, and Villa Vie have already joined these programs and continued discussions on expanding cooperation, underscoring the growing visibility and attractiveness of Taiwan within the overall international cruise vacation industry. Silver Moon Basic Specifications: Tonnage：40,700 GT Length：212.8m Width：26m Guest Capacity：596 Prior Call：Nagasaki Next Call：Hong Kong Provided by：Stevedoring and Warehousing Dept., Port of Keelung, TIPC Contact Person：Huai-hsuan Liu, Manager Telephone No.：02-2420-6421 E-mail Address：sharon06 @twport.com.tw Image 1. Silversea Cruises’ Silver Moon (photo credit: Silversea website) Image 2. Silversea Cruises’ Silver Nova made its maiden visit to Port of Keelung earlier this year (March 12th, 2025). Photo shows Port of Keelung Harbor Master Shih-hung Chen (right) and Silver Nova Captain Alessandro Zanello (left) exchanging commemorative gifts ]]></description>
<PubDate>Wed, 29 Oct 2025 17:23:00 GMT+08:00</PubDate>
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<title>TIPC Hosts 8-Day FAM Visit by Delegation from Mitsui Ocean Cruises, Confirms Taiwan’s Inclusion in Company’s East Asia Cruise Route Plans</title>
<link>https://cruise.twport.com.tw//News-Content.aspx?l=2&amp;nid=10285&amp;listid=2618&amp;p=1&amp;hid=0&amp;q=&amp;s_date=&amp;e_date=&amp;fromCnt=0</link>
<description><![CDATA[As part of its ongoing campaign to raise the profile of Taiwan’s ports in the East Asia cruise vacation market, Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) is actively expanding cooperation with international cruise operators worldwide, with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) subsidiary Mitsui Ocean Cruises an important target of current TIPC enticement efforts. While visiting senior Mitsui Ocean Cruises officials in early June 2024, TIPC President Chin-jung Wang formally invited the company to send a delegation to Taiwan to explore the country as a potential target for Mitsui Ocean Cruises expansion. After completing their recent visit, the Mitsui Ocean Cruises delegation announced their company would indeed be adding Taiwan ports to Mitsui cruise itineraries in the future to meet demand from their higher-end passenger segments for in-depth / culture travel experiences. In a show of the importance placed on the Taiwan market, the Mitsui Ocean Cruises delegation arranged for an 8-day/7-night FAM visit from June 22nd to 29th, 2025 to be arranged and hosted by TIPC. The delegation itinerary was tailored to highlight the touristic allure of Taiwan’s ports and their surrounding areas, Taiwan’s world-class service capabilities, depth and diversity of cultural and tourism attractions, and included visits to Keelung, the Penghu, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Taichung, and Suao. In the wake of this highly productive visit, TIPC looks forward to Mitsui Ocean Cruises adding Taiwan ports to MS Mitsui Ocean Fuji’s East Asia itinerary as well as to strengthening cruise line ties and communications between Taiwan and Japan further. The premier-class, medium-sized MS Mitsui Ocean Fuji, Mitsui Ocean Cruises’ new flagship cruise ship, weighs in at 32,000GT and can accommodate up to 450 passengers. Focused primarily on the domestic luxury-cruise market, the Ocean Fuji pampers passengers with iconic Japanese services and amenities and luxurious travel experiences. With Mitsui Ocean Cruises expecting to begin organizing East Asia cruise itineraries for the MS Mitsui Ocean Fuji later this year (2025), TIPC arranged the delegation to begin their exploratory visit in Keelung, followed by Penghu, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Taichung and, lastly, Suao. At each stop, in addition to exploring port facilities and surrounding transportation infrastructures, the delegation took time to investigate local cultural and tourism attractions and activities. During this visit, TIPC made a special effort to draw Mitsui Ocean Cruises’ attention to the significant tourism potential of its smaller ports, including Penghu, Anping (Tainan), and Suao (Yilan), underscoring the depth of Taiwan’s overall offering to the cruise tourism industry. TIPC noted that the vibrant recovery of Asia’s cruise vacation market has led the company to expand its focus beyond cruise ship homeport operations to pursue a more diversified growth strategy. The 8-day visit of the Mitsui Ocean Cruises delegation not only confirms the ability of Taiwan’s tourism and ports to attract international cruise brand interest and enthusiasm but also bodes well for TIPC ports attracting a growing number of visits by premium-class luxury cruise ships. TIPC expressed its particular appreciation to the city governments of Keelung, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung as well as Penghu and Yilan county governments for their assistance in making local itinerary / logistics arrangements and helping with promotion activities. Their efforts helped maximize the positive impact of this exploratory visit on Mitsui Ocean Cruises. Looking ahead, TIPC will continue to expand cooperation with international cruise lines with the goal of making ports in Taiwan increasingly regular stops on East Asia cruise routes. The head of the Mitsui Ocean Cruises delegation noted this experience had been an eye-opener for her and the other delegates. Their visit, she said, had highlighted not only the significant recent upgrades in port facilities and services but also the strong potential for tapping into Taiwan’s cultural and tourism attractions. After thanking TIPC for making such comprehensive preparations for their visit, the delegation announced Mitsui Ocean Cruises will plan Keelung, Kaohsiung, Suao, Taichung and Anping cruise calls in the future and would be promoting Taiwan as a major and alluring stop on East Asia cruise voyages as part of efforts to meet the in-depth, culture-focused vacation travel interests of high-end cruise passengers in Japan. Provided by：Harbor Operation Management Dept., TIPC Contact Person：Ta-wei Wu, Manager Telephone No.：07-521900#3350 E-mail Address：T03159@twport.com.tw Image 1. TIPC Business VP Chan-Jung Chang (5th from left) welcomes representatives of Mitsui Ocean Cruises Mai Sasaki (4th from left) and Marika Mizutani (5th from right) on an exploratory visit to Port of Kaohsiung. Kaohsiung City Government officials were invited to brief the visitors on Kaohsiung tourism opportunities Image 2. Mitsui Ocean Cruises delegation visiting Port of Kaohsiung’s “Great Harbor Bridge”, the first horizontally rotating bridge in Asia Image 3. Delegation getting a close-up look of Tainan’s coastal mangrove ecosystem during a pontoon boat ride through Sicao Green Tunnel Image 4. Delegation members try their hand at a local indigo dyeing experience, create one-of-a-kind works of indigo art Image 5. Delegates join a tea-harvesting experience activity in Yilan, getting a feel for local tea farming heritage and the natural beauty of northeastern Taiwan ]]></description>
<PubDate>Wed, 20 Aug 2025 16:54:00 GMT+08:00</PubDate>
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<title>Ports of Kaohsiung and Nanaimo Announce Sister Port Relations, Deepening Bilateral Ties and Opening New Opportunities</title>
<link>https://cruise.twport.com.tw//News-Content.aspx?l=2&amp;nid=10258&amp;listid=2618&amp;p=1&amp;hid=0&amp;q=&amp;s_date=&amp;e_date=&amp;fromCnt=0</link>
<description><![CDATA[The four-day (8/10-13) 111th annual conference of the Association of Pacific Ports (APP) currently ongoing in the city of Nanaimo in British Columbia, Canada was the venue Port of Kaohsiung, TIPC and Nanaimo Port Authority chose to formally announce their new sister port relationship. This bilateral framework establishes a firm foundation for future cooperation in business development, port safety management, information / communication technology (ICT), and other areas. The ceremony held on August 11th was overseen by Deputy Minister of Transport Canada, Arun Thangaraj, Nanaimo Mayor, Leonard Krog and TECO Director General Angel Liu and officiated by TIPC President Chin-jung Wang and Nanaimo Port Authority President and CEO Ian Marr, with Port of Kaohsiung Harbor Master Tsu-chiang Chen and Nanaimo Port Authority Board Chair Donna Hais signing the official sister-port documentation. The signing ceremony was held during the conference, with all APP attendees adding to the celebratory atmosphere. Port of Nanaimo is an APP member is located in British Columbia, Canada within the second largest city on Vancouver Island. The port is surrounded by natural beauty and rugged coastal scenery and steeped in history. Founded in 1961, the port is centered around a natural deep-water harbor with terminal facilities including the Nanaimo Assembly Wharf, Duke Point Terminal, a dedicated commercial waterway, portside retail area, and fishing wharf. Major business areas include both containerized and bulk cargo handling and ferry and cruise services. Port of Nanaimo is a major transportation hub between Vancouver Island and mainland North America and an important goods distribution center for the region. To ease the increasing congestion faced at Vancouver, Canada’s largest commercial port, Nanaimo Port is expanding its infrastructure with Canadian federal government support to provide backup / buffer support services, making Nanaimo a key target of Canadian shipping infrastructure expansion. Vancouver established sister port relations with Port of Kaohsiung in 1993 and, this year, Port of Kaohsiung welcomes Port of Nanaimo as its 20th sister port. Beyond facilitating stronger cooperation between the two ports, the relationship is set to deepen ties and exchanges between the ports’ respective cities. The annual APP conference brings ports from around the globe together to strengthen mutual understanding and promote regular exchange. The theme of this year’s conference, “One Ocean - Shared Vision”, covers topics including inter-port relations, port-related technologies, and port-partner relationships. The 150 attendees from 16 port organizations, in addition to TIPC, are from Canada, the United States, Philippines and the Marshall Islands. At last year’s conference (2024), held from August 11th to 14th in Taiwan, TIPC was honored to establish formal sister port relations with the ports of Long Beach (USA) and Majuro (Marshall Islands). The new sister port relationship with Nanaimo, achieved through the concerted efforts of both TIPC and the Taiwan government, further raises the scope and depth of Taiwan ports’ interactions and exchanges with key commercial ports around the world and ensures the operations and vision of Taiwan’s international commercial ports continue to align closely with global shipping industry expectations and needs. Provided by：Secretariat, TIPC Contact Person：Zion Chou, Manager Telephone No.：07-5622425 E-mail Address：T02506@twport.com.tw Image 1. Nanaimo Port Authority Board Chair Donna Hais and TIPC President Chin-jung Wang exchange the presents. Image 2. Port of Nanaimo and Port of Kaohsiung officially become sister ports. (From left to right, Nanaimo Port Authority President and CEO Ian Marr, Nanaimo Port Authority Board Chair Donna Hais, Port of Kaohsiung Harbor Master Tsu-chiang Chen, and TIPC President Chin-jung Wang) Image 3. Group photo. (From left to right, Nanaimo Port Authority Board Chair Donna Hais, Port of Kaohsiung Harbor Master Tsu-chiang Chen, Nanaimo Port Authority President and CEO Ian Marr, TECO Director General Angel Liu, TIPC President Chin-jung Wang and Deputy Minister of Transport Canada, Arun Thangaraj) Image 4. Cruise ship berthed in Vancouver’s Nanaimo Harbour Image 5. Port of Nanaimo’s natural and scenic environs Image 6. Duke Point Terminal, Port of Nanaimo, Vancouver, Canada ]]></description>
<PubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:47:00 GMT+08:00</PubDate>
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<title>Rise in Exploratory Visits and Discussions Reveal Growing Cruise Industry Interest in Suao Port as a Port-of-Call Destination</title>
<link>https://cruise.twport.com.tw//News-Content.aspx?l=2&amp;nid=10239&amp;listid=2618&amp;p=1&amp;hid=0&amp;q=&amp;s_date=&amp;e_date=&amp;fromCnt=0</link>
<description><![CDATA[Looking to capitalize on the fast-paced growth and expansion of the global cruise industry, Port of Keelung, a subsidiary of the Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC), has been strategically developing and promoting its branch port of Suao as an enticing new destination for cruise travel. Suao Port has received a significant rise in interest from international cruise operators since the completion of the new Suao Port Passenger Terminal in June of last year (2024), and the many cruise ship and travel agency teams sent to investigate the touristic landscape of Yilan County and Suao Port’s facilities and nearby attractions in this past year underscore the area’s strong cruise tourism growth potential. In terms of numbers, Suao Port’s newly opened passenger terminal handled 1,238 international and 7,589 domestic (mostly Suao-Hualien ferry) passengers in 2024. Notably, the five international cruise ships carrying over 3,200 passengers anticipated this year (2025) will significantly more than double Suao Port’s international arrivals. To enhance port passenger services and improve visitor access to area tourism resources, Port of Keelung joined the Yilan County Government in organizing the 2025 “Get to Know Yilan” event in March, which was well attended by local tour operators and cruise ship agents. The event introduced attendees to Yilan County’s diverse tapestry of tourism offerings and opportunities, provided an in-depth introduction to Suao Port’s passenger terminal and amenities, oriented them to main transportation and tourism routes across the region, and discussed potential avenues for future cooperation. Port of Keelung officials are committed to exploring and expanding opportunities for cooperation with international cruise operators; planning and implementing in cooperation with local government authorities comprehensive tourist shuttle and information services for visiting cruise passengers; and building Yilan into an exciting new cruise vacation destination. The port encourages more visits from cruise operators and agents to discuss and realize together Suao’s true potential as a rising new cruise port-of-call destination. Looking to the future, TIPC hopes to entice a growing number of cruise line brands to integrate Suao into their voyage itineraries as a port-of-call. Expanding cruise-tourism opportunities will help further upgrade Yilan County’s tourism sector, plug Yilan into international tourism trends and flows, and economically benefit both the port and its surrounding communities. Provided by：Suao Port Branch Office, Port of Keelung, TIPC Contact Person：Chih-hong Tsao, Senior Director Telephone No.：03-9965121#201 E-mail Address：chtsao@twport.com.tw Image 1. Photo from June 30th, 2024 showing the Nippon Maru, owned and operated by Mitsui Ocean Cruises, during its maiden call at Suao Port in northeastern Taiwan Image 2. Visiting representatives from cruises company attend a presentation given inside Suao Port Passenger Terminal ]]></description>
<PubDate>Mon, 04 Aug 2025 16:14:00 GMT+08:00</PubDate>
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<title>International Cruise Ship Calls at Port of Kaohsiung Set to Nearly Double in 2025, Revitalizing the City’s Cruise Tourism Economy</title>
<link>https://cruise.twport.com.tw//News-Content.aspx?l=2&amp;nid=10238&amp;listid=2618&amp;p=1&amp;hid=0&amp;q=&amp;s_date=&amp;e_date=&amp;fromCnt=0</link>
<description><![CDATA[2025 is shaping into a banner year for Port of Kaohsiung’s cruise vacation sector, with the 107 international cruise ship calls scheduled for this year set to nearly double last year’s total of 59 calls. The 71 international cruise ship calls scheduled for the second half of 2025, including 34 homeport voyages and 37 port-of-call visits, will bring over 100,000 passengers to the port, infusing new energy and opportunity into southwest Taiwan’s tourism sector and showing the fruits of a multiyear effort to build interest and excitement in Kaohsiung within the global cruise industry. Costa Cruises’ Costa Serena and Star Cruises’ Star Navigator are setting the pace for homeport cruises in 2025 with respective voyages northward to Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture (Naha City, Ishigaki Island, and Miyako Island) and southward to Vietnam (Da Nang and H? Long Bay) and the Philippines (Laoag City, Coron Island, Puerto Princesa, and Boracay). Moreover, the latter is an entirely new route for Kaohsiung-based homeport cruises, with the new destinations expanding the options for Taiwan cruise market. Looking ahead, Port of Kaohsiung will continue to flex its advantages and opportunities as the maritime gateway to and from sunny southern Taiwan. This diversification is expected to attract more cruise lines to utilize Kaohsiung Port for varied cruise deployments in the future. In the port-of-call column, the extended list of cruise ships scheduled to visit Port of Kaohsiung later this year include StarCruises’ Star Voyager, MOL’s Mitsui Ocean Fuji, Oceania Cruises’ Riviera, NCL’s Norwegian Spirit, Seabourn Cruise Line’s Seabourn Quest, NCL’s Norwegian Sun, and NYK Cruises’ Asuka 2. The Mitsui Ocean Fuji will make its maiden call at Kaohsiung on September 25th. The Asuka 2 will arrive in port on December 30th and remain at berth for several days to ring the New Year in for the very first time in the city. The number of Japan-based cruise voyages scheduled to call at Kaohsiung is slated to expand further next year (2026), evidencing the significant strategic effort the Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) has invested in encouraging Japanese cruise liners to establish and increase their Taiwan calls. To help further fuel growth in Taiwan’s cruise business development, TIPC has actively promoted its ports and Taiwan as a destination. In April 2025, TIPC jointly attended Seatrade Cruise Global 2025 in Miami with the Taiwan Tourism Administration. In addition to one-on-one meetings with major players including Holland America, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Carnival Corp., Seabourn Cruise Line, NCL, MSC Cruises, Windstar Cruises, the Royal Caribbean Group, and Disney Cruise Line, TIPC promoted its port facilities, in-country tourism attractions, and incentives for cruise ship operators to exhibition attendees. TIPC’s presence at the world’s largest gathering of cruise industry professionals attracted significant cruise ship operator attention and helped fuel overall interest in adding Taiwan to cruise itinerary development and expansion plans. Also, in May of this year, TIPC President Chin-jung Wang led his team to Japan, visiting Carnival Japan, Mitsui Ocean Lines (MOL) Cruises, and NYK Cruises; promoting Taiwan’s port facilities and resources and port-city tourism attractions; encouraging Japanese lines to include Kaohsiung on regular cruise routes; and strengthening bilateral ties and communications with Japan’s cruise market. Beyond these and other initiatives designed to raise international cruise line interest in and calls at Kaohsiung, the port continues to strengthen its physical and service passenger-handling infrastructures and raise cruise ship reception and service quality with the goal of creating a world-class operating environment for the cruise ship industry. Moreover, the port is working closely with local government agencies to market Kaohsiung&apos;&apos;s tourism, allowing visitors from near and far to experience the city’s rich cultural, historical, and culinary charms; maximizing Kaohsiung’s value to cruise line passengers and operators, and fueling economic growth and prosperity across the area. Provided by：Stevedoring &amp;amp; Warehousing Dept., Port of Kaohsiung, TIPC Contact Person：Pei-ling Lin, Supervisor Telephone No.：07-5219000 ext. 5910 E-mail Address：peiling@twport.com.tw Image 1. The Italian-themed Costa Serena is set to depart on multiple Kaohsiung-based homeport cruise voyages starting in October Image 2. The Star Navigator will launch its maiden homeport voyage from Kaohsiung on November 16th with stops in Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines (photo credit: StarCruises) Image 3. The Mitsui Ocean Fuji will be making its maiden call at Port of Kaohsiung on September 25th (photo credit: Mitsui Ocean Lines) Image 4. The Asuka 2 will arrive at Port of Kaohsiung on December 30th and remain at berth through all of the port’s New Year’s festivities (photo credit: Tsuneo Nakamura [photographer] and NYK Cruises) ]]></description>
<PubDate>Mon, 04 Aug 2025 14:22:00 GMT+08:00</PubDate>
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<title>Port of Keelung’s “Suao Port Wharf No. 13 Renovation Project” Boosting Wharf Resilience and Functionality While Promoting Circular Economy Practices and Environmental Sustainability</title>
<link>https://cruise.twport.com.tw//News-Content.aspx?l=2&amp;nid=10141&amp;listid=2618&amp;p=1&amp;hid=0&amp;q=&amp;s_date=&amp;e_date=&amp;fromCnt=0</link>
<description><![CDATA[Port of Keelung, TIPC’s comprehensive review of current infrastructure and facilities at Suao Port was conducted with the goal of optimizing that port’s overall infrastructure and potential for tourism / ferry traffic growth. Based on the findings, a multi-year repair and retrofitting program was approved to secure the structural safety and utility of Suao port wharves for decades to come. Related work has finished on Wharf Nos. 6, 7, 9, and 10~12, with work ongoing at Wharf No. 13. Once completed, the renovated Wharf No. 13 will operate as a dual-purpose wharf with facilities for both ferry passenger and general cargo handling. The Wharf No. 13 renovation project centers on: 1) removal and replacement of the current wharf platform; 2) removal and replacement of the platform support structure and reinforcement of the existing pile foundation system; and 3) reinforcement of the overall wharf structure to accommodate a newly installed mooring system and heavy cargo and other handling needs. In detail, this project includes the removal of 108 existing platform sections, installation of an additional 35 sets of high-tension tie cables, and removal and replacement of two damaged piles. The replacement sections for the wharf platform are made of precast concrete. Moreover, after removal of the original platform sections, F130T tie cables anchored to Class-B RC beams are being thread through holes drilled into the existing reinforced-concrete (RC) foundation and tightened fully before installing the new precast concrete sections onto the platform surface. With regard to the two damaged piles, after completely removing the foundation structure above each, the old piles were removed, newly fabricated steel-pipe piles were installed, and a newly poured foundation will be tightly secured to surrounding structural elements. The entire retrofit of Suao Port Wharf No. 13 is scheduled for completion by the end of October this year (2025). Overall, project work is being implemented under eco-friendly principles centered on minimizing resource usage and maximizing materials recycling/reuse. Cement rubble from the original wharf platform and recovered stone and gravel are being crushed, screened and prioritized in renovation/repair material needs. Furthermore, one-ton tetrapods removed while installing the new piles will be reinstalled in place. Finally, waste soil, stone and excavated graded aggregates are being used directly in the 4th harbor channel reclamation zone. In line with government policies promoting the development of circular economies, the reuse and repurposing of materials in Suao Port’s wharf renovation work is effectively shortening the timeline for land reclamation work at the port, reducing the impacts of project work on the environment, and moving the entire TIPC organization forward in actualizing ESG values in its operations and achieving critical sustainable development goals. Provided by：Suao Port Branch Office, Port of Keelung, TIPC Contact Person：Tay-ran Yu, Manager Telephone No.：03-9965121#275 E-mail Address：tayran@twport.com.tw Image 1. Steel pipe pile installation Image 2. Precast concrete slab installation ]]></description>
<PubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2025 16:06:00 GMT+08:00</PubDate>
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<title>Port of Keelung Launches Energy Management System (EMS) Phase 2, Setting the New High Bar for Low-Carbon, Smart Port Operations</title>
<link>https://cruise.twport.com.tw//News-Content.aspx?l=2&amp;nid=10140&amp;listid=2618&amp;p=1&amp;hid=0&amp;q=&amp;s_date=&amp;e_date=&amp;fromCnt=0</link>
<description><![CDATA[Port of Keelung has launched various policies and initiatives in recent years aligned with national “net-zero by 2050” goals. Following the completion of phase 1 of its energy management system (EMS) project in 2024, this TIPC subsidiary is set to launch phase 2, which will include installing new solar power facilities, removing outmoded central air conditioning systems, and upgrading communications links and software systems at both Port of Keelung and its branch ports of Taipei and Suao. These improvements will help actualize EMS-related smart functions and maximize the impact of EMS on operations across the Port of Keelung subsidiary. Phase 2 of the EMS project builds on and expands the scope and benefits achieved in Phase 1. Key action items include the installation of an additional 200 smart meters in designated electricity usage zones to facilitate carbon footprint tracking and verification and air-conditioning system replacement and optimization. With regard to the latter, air-conditioning systems in use for over 15 years at 7 locations throughout the subsidiary, including the Port of Keelung Passenger Terminal and Taipei Port Building will be fully upgraded using near-net-zero (energy rating 1) water-cooled chiller units and high-efficiency pumps. Combined with AI-enabled smart management features, these new systems, once installed, are expected to reduce power consumption across the subsidiary by 1.2 GWh/year and cut carbon emissions by some 569mt/year. In terms of renewables, this project is also set to install solar power generation stations in three locations within the subsidiary that, once online, will provide 850KW of power generation capacity, generating around 0.71 GWh/year and reducing carbon emissions by some 337mt/year. In the arena of software systems and upgrades, Port of Keelung is developing AI-based EMS optimization and emerging-energy management systems as well as improving its AI-driven demand forecasting capabilities and refining its facility supervision and control, incident alert, and power consumption reporting modules. The goal of these efforts is to establish a smart energy management platform that works comprehensively and flexibly to optimize power utilization across subsidiary operations. Procurement evaluations for phase 2 work were completed on May 19th. Contract awardees will commence work this month (June), with all contractual obligations to be finished by the end of 2026. When completed, phase 2 will set the new benchmark for EMS operations in Taiwan. The energy expected to be saved and generated under this project will be equivalent to the combined annual power needs of around 482 households. Looking ahead, Port of Keelung will continue to integrate advanced new technologies, creating a modern port infrastructure that exemplifies the very best in terms of smart tech, green practices, and sustainable operations, marching in step with national policy priorities into a better net-zero future. Provided by：Maintenance Management Dept., Port of Keelung, TIPC Contact Person：Ming-jen Chi, Director Telephone No.：02-24206335 E-mail Address：s002@twport.com.tw Image 1. Port of Keelung energy management system (EMS), Phases 1 and 2 Image 2. Water-cooled chiller unit for central air-conditioning system (situated in the Keelung Harbor Building) ]]></description>
<PubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2025 15:58:00 GMT+08:00</PubDate>
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<title>TIPC and Tourism Administration-Sponsored Booth at 2025 Seatrade Cruise Global Sheds Light on Taiwan’s Allure as International Cruise Tourism Destination</title>
<link>https://cruise.twport.com.tw//News-Content.aspx?l=2&amp;nid=10072&amp;listid=2618&amp;p=1&amp;hid=0&amp;q=&amp;s_date=&amp;e_date=&amp;fromCnt=0</link>
<description><![CDATA[The Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) once again joined the Taiwan Tourism Administration in sponsoring a national booth at Seatrade Cruise Global, held this year (2025) from April 8th to 11th in Miami, Florida. TIPC took the opportunity to highlight to cruise industry attendees the recent additions and upgrades to its subsidiary ports as well as Taiwan’s touristic allures with the goals of raising industry awareness and further growing Taiwan’s profile as a cruise destination. TIPC paid calls on Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Carnival Corp., Seabourn, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Windstar Cruises, Royal Caribbean Group, and Disney Cruise Line during the event to discuss port-call plans and service needs. In addition to updating these and other cruise ship operators on port-of-call opportunities in Taiwan, TIPC made a concerted effort to promote subsidiary ports with particularly strong future potential such as Taichung and Anping. At the event, TIPC took the opportunity to introduce its subsidiary ports and ongoing infrastructure improvement programs as well as promote the many advantages of calling at TIPC ports, including port-fee waivers and streamlined immigration clearance procedures, that help reduce cruise ship operator costs and raise operator interest in including Taiwan on cruise itineraries. Special efforts were made to showcase the roll-out of shore power systems at Keelung and Kaohsiung Ports, the opening of new passenger terminals, and other recent key improvements at TIPC ports. Key attributes of each port were also highlighted, including the dual-homeport-tailored facilities at Keelung and Kaohsiung, the newly opened wharves and passenger terminal at Suao Port, the wharf-extension project and new passenger service terminal at Magong Port, and the new wharf opened at Port of Hualien ideal for welcoming small expedition cruise ships These comprehensive presentations gave trade visitors a new appreciation of the diversity and significant growth potential within the TIPC’s port family. According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), 31,500 individual cruise passengers were taken worldwide in 2023. While this number exceeds the pre-pandemic peak, annual cruise passage numbers in Asia, while making a comeback, remain short of their pre-pandemic highs. In terms of Taiwan, cruise market demand has seen a relatively quick rebound, with 290 ship calls and over 1 million passengers expected this year (2025). These numbers are only slightly short of pre-pandemic numbers and are backed by a steady upward growth trend. In partnership with the Tourism Administration and local governments, TIPC will continue raising Taiwan’s profile within Asia’s cruise vacation market and increasing cruise ship call numbers using a multifaceted strategy that includes participation in major international trade fairs, one-on-one meetings with cruise ship operators, continued improvement of port infrastructures, offering incentives such as port-fee waivers, and bolstering communications and cooperative relationships with cruise lines worldwide. Provided by：Harbor Operation Management Dept., TIPC Contact Person：TA-WEI WU, Manager Telephone No.：07-521-9000 ext. 3350 E-mail Address：T03159@twport.com.tw ]]></description>
<PubDate>Mon, 26 May 2025 11:01:00 GMT+08:00</PubDate>
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<title>Newly Renovated Magong Harbor Passenger Service Terminal Now Open for Business!</title>
<link>https://cruise.twport.com.tw//News-Content.aspx?l=2&amp;nid=10063&amp;listid=2618&amp;p=1&amp;hid=0&amp;q=&amp;s_date=&amp;e_date=&amp;fromCnt=0</link>
<description><![CDATA[The Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) secured government support and funding several years ago for the Magong Harbor Passenger Service Terminal Improvement Project as part of ongoing efforts to improve the quality, convenience, and safety of passenger service facilities at Magong Port. Work on this project, which commenced on August 1st, 2024, progressed smoothly through the winter months until completion. The official opening of the newly renovated passenger service terminal was marked today (April 26th) with a ceremony attended by senior officials and honored guests, including MOTC Minister Shih-kai Chen, Penghu County Magistrate Kuang-fu Chen, EY Southern Taiwan Joint Services Center Director Nai-wen Hsu, TIPC Chairman Hsien-yi Lee, and Maritime and Port Bureau Director General Hsieh-lung Yeh. Magong Port, the main transportation hub in the Penghu Archipelago, is the main gateway for the large numbers of tourists and local residents who travel to and from the Penghus each year. Under a broader-based public initiative to upgrade Magong’s passenger handling infrastructure, TIPC leveraged this project not only to streamline passenger ticketing, waiting, clearance, and information capabilities but also to introduce smart services and amenities such as new electronic information display boards, self-service ticketing kiosks, free Wi-Fi and charging stations, and passenger clearance lanes with barrier-free access to individuals with special needs. During the ceremony, TIPC Senior Researcher Chih-wen Cheng gave a detailed account to the assembled guests of how the new terminal actualizes TIPC’s promise to both Penghu residents and visitors. He also provided an overview of TIPC’s still-ongoing work to improve and expand port facilities in the archipelago. These projects include construction of a new visitor’s center adjacent to Wharf No. 1 and new passenger waiting area at Wharf No. 8; development of the Jinlongtou Bay area; and construction of a visitor’s center in nearby Longmen Jianshan Harbor. These facilities, he said, would further foster Penghu’s comprehensive infrastructure for tourism and cargo shipping, increasing service quality, promoting inbound tourism, and expanding the local tourism sector. TIPC Chairman Hsien-yi Lee added that, “In continuing to enhance passenger facilities, we are making an exceptional environment even better. Moreover, as TIPC has promised to the people of Penghu and the visitors arriving here from near and far, we will continue to upgrade and enhance these new facilities going forward. This will ensure that, from the moment they arrive in port, visitors will feel the warmth and convenience of the Penghus. We are injecting new vitality into the Penghu tourism sector and working in close partnership with the Penghu County Government to lead Penghu tourism to historic new milestones.” MOTC Minister Shih-kai Chen remarked that Penghu’s position as a favored destination for both domestic and overseas travelers makes Magong Port an important gateway for international cruise ships as well as domestic ferries. From the already finished and in-service Wharf No. 1 extension and Wharf No. 3 floating dock projects to today’s passenger service terminal grand opening, the minister continued, the government’s commitment to raising the quality of tourism services in Penghu is clear. Moreover, he said, the Executive Yuan is continuing to prioritize the Penghus as an important focus of development in terms of both public and port services. MOTC is committed to further upgrading Magong Port facilities and to elevating Penghu as a world-class ocean tourism destination, spotlighting local maritime and cultural heritage, attracting visitors to join in marine-related activities, and promoting island tourism and related economies. Provided by：Construction Management and Engineering Dept., Port of Kaohsiung, TIPC Contact Person：Yu-jen Lin, Manager Telephone No.：07-562-2476 E-mail Address：T03161@twport.com.tw ]]></description>
<PubDate>Wed, 21 May 2025 15:20:00 GMT+08:00</PubDate>
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<title>Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal - New Engine of Asia New Bay Area Growth and Prosperity: Open Bidding for Commercial Office Space Targets Financial Service Providers</title>
<link>https://cruise.twport.com.tw//News-Content.aspx?l=2&amp;nid=10013&amp;listid=2618&amp;p=1&amp;hid=0&amp;q=&amp;s_date=&amp;e_date=&amp;fromCnt=0</link>
<description><![CDATA[Beyond its cruise passenger and tourism support functions, the Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal in Kaohsiung City’s Asia New Bay Area features a 15-story commercial tower with lofty ambitions. In line with the Executive Yuan’s Asia New Bay Area 2.0-Smart Tech-nology Innovation Park Promotion Plan, TIPC has been actively fostering the development and growth of a 5G AIoT industry chain centered on Port of Kaohsiung. Balancing TIPC’s need for administrative space and government policy needs, ten floors of the commercial tower have been set aside for TIPC office and administrative needs, and the remaining floors have been opened to the private sector. While the 10th floor is under lease to Tai-wan’s 3rd largest telecommunications services provider, Far EasTone Telecommunications, floors 4 through 7 are currently being made available to companies that align with current government policy priorities, with hopes that major technology firms establish offices or regional operational centers in the building, creating a new high-tech industry cluster. Transforming Taiwan into an Asian hub for asset management is a key goal of the national Financial Supervisory Commission. In pursuit of this goal, the commission has selected Kaohsiung as a testing ground for related policies and approved several financial institu-tions to pursue related opportunities. According to the Kaohsiung City Government, the city’s Asia New Bay Area may leverage the advantages of locally centered high-tech in-dustry clusters and the convenience and state-of-the-art features available in the Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal to establish the area as a financial center. Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal is much more than just southern Taiwan’s most important gateway for ocean tourism. The complex expertly provides state-of-the-art international cruise ship services together with commercial office facilities, fun and leisure opportunities, and outdoor deck spaces offering breathtaking views of the port and seascape beyond. Moreover, the complex is seamlessly integrated via light rail to other city attractions along Kaohsiung City’s waterfront tourism corridor including the Kaohsiung Music Center, Kaohsiung Exhibition Center, Pier-2 Art Center, KW2, and Great Harbor Bridge. Future plans to make the terminal a stop on the city’s new yellow metro line will make doing busi-ness here even more convenient, attract more domestic and international tourism, and spur further regional economic growth and prosperity. An official statement by Port of Kaohsiung notes that the invitation to bid on floor 4~7 commercial space in the Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal offers unique side benefits that include a singularly scenic setting, easy transportation access, and close proximity to Kaohsiung Software Park. In addition to tech startups, port officials are looking to attract financial firms to establish a presence in the terminal that will spur FinTech synergies, in-crease competitiveness, and further bolster the international profile of Kaohsiung’s Asia New Bay Area. The open invitations to bid on commercial office spaces (floors 4~7) in Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal starts from April 18 to May 5, 2025 and the bid openings are scheduled on May 6, 2025. For more information regarding this bid and related proce-dures, please refer to the online announcement available via the following link: https://www.twport.com.tw/news/Announcement?a=2458. Other related queries should be directed to Port of Kaohsiung’s Port Business Department. Port of Kaohsiung sincerely looks forward to working in close cooperation with financial service providers to create to-gether a brilliant new Port of Kaohsiung spotlight destination. Provided by：Port Business Dept., Port of Kaohsiung, TIPC Contact Person：Ping-Chuan Wang, Manager Telephone No.：07-5622197 E-mail Address：T01548@twport.com.tw ]]></description>
<PubDate>Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:30:00 GMT+08:00</PubDate>
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