Ferrol Cruise Port is expected to begin operations from a new passenger terminal in spring 2027, following a 30-year concession awarded to Global Ports Holding (GPH) by the Ferrol-San Cibrao Port Authority.
The project was presented jointly by the Port Authority and GPH at Seatrade Cruise Med 2026 in Las Palmas, where representatives outlined plans to increase cruise passenger traffic and strengthen Ferrol’s position as a cruise destination.
José Antonio Álvarez Vidal, president of the Ferrol-San Cibrao Port Authority, said the partnership with GPH represented a strategic commitment to both the port and the city. He highlighted the technical characteristics of Ferrol’s berths and the tourism attractions of the surrounding region, while noting that the new terminal was expected to contribute to increased cruise traffic and the ongoing transformation of the port.
Álvarez Vidal also linked the terminal development to the wider Abrir Ferrol al Mar project, which is intended to strengthen the relationship between the port and the city. One element of that initiative involves improving public access to the Arsenal, a major historic site currently separated from the city by its surrounding wall.
The Port Authority president said the new terminal was expected to be completed in spring 2027 and would provide Ferrol with an opportunity to expand its current position in the cruise sector through cooperation with an international port operator.
Francesc Grau, GPH Regional Director for the West Mediterranean, said Ferrol represented an important addition to the company's West Mediterranean and Atlantic portfolio and would strengthen its presence in Spain and the wider region. He said GPH would support the development of the new terminal and seek to apply its operational experience and regional network to the long-term development of Ferrol as a cruise destination.
The project will cover ~960 m2/10,335 ft2 at the port’s outer quay and will be developed in two phases. The first phase will comprise a 480-m2/5165 ft2 passenger terminal, with construction expected to begin in 2026. Operations are scheduled to commence during the 2027 cruise season.
Once operational, Ferrol Cruise Port will become part of GPH’s international network, which comprises 35 ports serving 22+ million cruise passengers. The project will also expand GPH’s presence in Spain and across the Atlantic region.