Greenock (Glasgow, Scotland)

Greenock is a major port city located at the entrance to Firth of Clyde on Scotland's western coast. The port (officially Clydeport) is also the cruise port to Glasgow - Scotland's largest city, with population over 600,000 (metro 2,3 million).

The Peel Ports-managed Clydeport has a deep-water quay, no tidal or lock restrictions, and is accessible the whole year-round to ships of all sizes. Greenock has population around 50,000. It was originally established as a herring fishing port, which in the 19th-20th centuries developed shipbuilding industry.

According to CLIA data (abbrev "Cruise Lines International Association"), each cruise passenger contributes around GBP 80 to the local economy.

The port's statistical data shows in handled just 20,253 passengers in 2007. In 2014, their number was 92,678.

On July 12, 2015, UK’s biggest passenger ship MV Britannia (P&O Cruises UK) docked in Port Greenock as part a 12-night British Isles cruise itinerary (visiting ports in Ireland, Channel Islands and the UK). The ship berthed at the Ocean Terminal at 5 pm, with around 3600 passengers. Its arrival marked a record year for the cruise port, becoming Scotland's first seaport to handle over 100,000 cruise tourists in a single year (14% increase over 2014). In 2015, Clydeport received a total of 56 cruise ship calls and handled 108,866 passengers. It was estimated that each cruise tourist contributed ~GBP 80 to the local economy. The 108,866 passengers in 2015 brought GBP 8,7 million (EUR 12,4 million) to the local economy.

Port Greenock works in partnership with Inverclyde Tourist Group (local tour operator) greeting disembarking passengers and offering tour and travel information at the cruise terminal. The memorable dockside experience is also marked by Glasgow's cow mascot Hamish.

Inverclyde Tourist Group organizes unique land tours guided by local knowledgeable volunteers. Each tour (with duration about 2 hours) starts and ends at Greenock Ocean Terminal. The company offers three different tours (starting from 9:15 am onwards) by using small coaches. Bookings can be made through the company's website and also at the cruise terminal (via its tartan-clad volunteers or call at its ticket desk at the terminal). The 3 tour options include Greenock (city tour), Gourock (countryside scenic tour) and Port Glasgow and Newark Castle (shipbuilding and sugar manufacturing in Port Glasgow, and to Newark Castle / owned by Historic Scotland).

Clydeport is visited by a great number of cruise shipping lines, including Princess, RCI-Royal Caribbean, MSC, Cunard, P&O UK, Fred Olsen, Holland America, CMV (Cruise Maritime Voyages), Disney (maiden call in 2015). Greenock is homeport to Hebridean Island Cruises (UK-based luxury travel company). Its ship (Hebridean Princess) has been chartered twice by HM Elizabeth II.

In April 2019, for 2 weeks in Clydeport were homeported 35 warships, 5 submarines and 59 aircraft (planes and helicopters) plus over 10,000 military personnel from 13 countries as part of a major NATO maritime training exercise. "Exercise Joint Warrior" was controlled and directed from HM Naval Base Clyde's Maritime Operations Centre and conducted along Scotland's west coast.

Greenock cruise terminal