Under the pretext of meeting the requirements of the ISPS (International Ship and Port Security Code), the operators of the cruise line terminal are imposing that passengers returning to cruise ships after shore excursions are dropped off in the public area outside the terminal. This appears to be nothing but a ploy to usher passengers through VISET’s retail area prior to embarkation.

The procedure is also leading to chaos and confusion whenever a number of coaches arrive at the terminal simultaneously and have to park in the limited space available for drop off. This is unnecessarily exposing passengers to the risk of accident and injury.

FATTA is extremely concerned that this practice is upsetting cruise line operators and is likely to lead to a further decline in cruise calls. VISET should seriously study what is done in competing ports to introduce simpler but more effective security procedures without creating these problems.

FATTA calls on the authorities concerned to investigate whether this procedure is in fact an abuse of a dominant position by the operators of the terminal and to rectify the situation before it is too late.