NEWS QUARTERLY DECEMBER 2005 ISSUE 10 MedCruise General Assembly 20-21st October, 2005, Cyprus New president and board of directors elected

he 27th MedCruise general assembly took place in Lemesos, Cyprus on October 20-21, 2005. THosted by the Cyprus Ports Authority, the event was attended by over 50 delegates from across the Destination Mediterranean. The meeting had particular importance, as the Board was due for re-election for the next three-year mandate 2005-2008. Out-going president Juan Madrid told the meeting that he was satisfied and proud of how MedCruise had developed in the past three years. Reflecting on the highlights of his presidency Madrid said one of his main achievements was to create a more decentralised association and sharing of Antonio Crespo of Valencia (right) posts his vote responsibilities across the board, to make future transition easier and smoother. On the opening day local authorities 4. Study of the impact of cruises on local Attendees first voted for the position of welcomed all attendees after which the economies president, electing Laurent Monsaigneon following matters were discussed: 5. Approval of new member: in from French Riviera Ports. Selection of a new 1. Finance report (see page 4 for more information). Board, composing ten members, five 2. Publishing contract for 2006-2008. Three MedCruise currently represents 44 members representing big ports and five representing publishers were invited to present proposals. covering 63 ports. small ports was also elected (see message The result will be announced in early December. The next General Assembly will take place in from the new president) below. 3. Campaign with Tourist Boards Gibraltar on May 11-12, 2006.

Board View – Laurent Monsaigneon, President

t is with great enthusiasm that I write Directors elected democratically to each director and I am my first editorial as President of by the general assembly. On the convinced that his or her IMedCruise. After ten years since its one hand our senior vice professionalism and foundation I have inherited a strong and president Albert Poggio from commitment will insure the well-known association, thanks, without a Gibraltar and director Yiannakis success of the whole project. doubt, to the professional management of Kokkinos from Cyprus, represent I would not like to finish previous Presidents and Directors. the experience and knowledge my contribution without This brings me to choose ‘continuity’ as my from previous mandates. On the expressing my sincere general working guideline, especially regarding other, new ports of different gratitude to Carla Salvado, the promotion of the Mediterranean. However sizes, regions and cultures have who will provide the there is also a major challenge to provide fresh been elected into the board: continuity and performance ideas to maintain our region as one of the main Valeria Mangiarotti as vice she brought to the previous cruise destinations. I think it is time to develop president (Cagliari), Antonio team as our secretary general, improved co-operation, training and best Crespo (Valencia), Giovanni Spadoni (Livorno), Lotfi to MedCruise members for their confidence in practices among our member ports, through a El Ajmi (Tunis), Jose Amate (Almeria), Ivan me and to all the people who have already continuous exchange of experience. Franicevic’ (Split), Jose Torrado (Ceuta) and David expressed to me, at the very early stage of my In this sense I am very happy with the Board of Stupelman (Sochi). A specific task will be assigned mandate, their full support. MedCruise News MedCruise General Assembly 20-21st October, 2005

n the eve of the opening address, the During the second day of the meeting MedCruise delegation attended a members enjoyed hearing presentations O reception by the mayor of Lemesos at from some key cruise line executives who the town hall, whilst during the following had kindly accepted MedCruise’s invitation. days, Cyprus Ports Authority organised an They were George Michaelides (Louis Cruise attractive social programme with the Lines), Stelios Haji-Ioannou (easyCruise) and collaboration of the Cyprus Tourism Emilio Freeman (ResidenSea). Attendees had Organisation, the Cyprus Shipping Association the chance for one-to-one meetings with and Louis Cruise Lines. On the first day, lunch the guests. was served onboard Louis Cruise Lines’ The Pictures here are a selection of photographs Emerald which was alongside at the port. taken over the two days.

Stelios talks to Port of Barcelona's Juan Madrid and Sandra Yunta during the one-on-one sessions for Delegates from Croatia enjoy a meal onboard The Emerald members and cruise line executives

Juan Madrid and Yiannakis Kokkinos held a press conference on the opening day. Madrid reflected on the highlights of his presidency and said he was pleased that seven ports had joined the association during the past three years, including three from Ukraine and Russia therefore 'extending our borders to the Black Sea.' Kokkinos spoke about the plans to create new cruise facilities at both Limassol and Larnaka.

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Louis Cruise Lines' George Michaelides kindly hosted a lunch for all participants onboard The Emerald. Pictured at the head table out-going president Juan Madrid hosts his final lunch before stepping down. L-R: Yiannakis Kokkinos (Cyprus), Charles Axisa (Malta), George Michaelides, Albert Poggio (Gibraltar), Juan Madrid, Enrica Caprietti (Venice), Laurent Monsaingeon, Carla Salvado (secretary-general), Mario Flores (Alicante)

During the second day members enjoyed the interesting presentations of some cruise line executives. Laurent Monsaingeon presided over the session and was joined by L-R: Louis Cruise Lines' George Michaelides, easyCruise boss Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Laurent, ResidenSeas' Emilio Freeman and Yiannakis Kokkinos from Cyprus Ports Authority

Valerie Mangiarotti from Cagliari elected to the board as vice president

Delegates listen to a guide from the Cyprus Tourism Organisation during an afternoon visit to Kolossi Castle

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New member MedCruise Members

I Alanya I

I Alicante I Palamos

I Almeria I Palermo

I Balearic Islands I Pescara

I Barcelona I Piraeus

I I Portoferraio

I Cagliari I Portuguese ports

I Cartagena I Sete

I Catania I Sevastapol

I Ceuta I Sibenik

I Cyprus ports I Sochi Pescara shapes up for cruise I Dubrovnik, I Split I French Riviera ports I Tarragona The Italian city and port of Pescara, coast with highway connections which start situated in the centre of the Adriatic from the port’s gate,’ says Bruno Santori, project I Genoa I Toulon, St Tropez coast between and Bari, is the manager, City of Pescara. Pescara and its I Gibraltar I Trieste newest member of MedCruise. environs offer various architectural and Located opposite Split, Pescara has two archeological sites, three national parks, I Israeli ports I Tunis berths – 180mtr and 155mtr in length both mountains with ski tracks, movie set locations which are being dredged to 7.5mtr. Other quays (‘King David,’ ‘Lady Hawke’ ...), fashionable I Korcula I Valencia are also available along the river channel for shopping, food and wine itineraries and I La Spezia I Valletta smaller vessels. The berths are connected to the religious sites with sanctuaries and hermitages. maritime station using a shuttle bus. There are plans to refurbish the maritime I Livorno I Venice ‘Rome is 190km away and we offer an station and widen the port and berth for Malaga Volos alternative access to the city via the eastern larger vessels. I I I Messina I Zadar

About the new president I Monaco

MedCruise’s new president Laurent Monsaingeon is Contacts the managing director of the French Riviera Ports. MedCruise After training as an Carla Salvadó engineer, Monsaingeon Secretary General Portal de la Pau, 6 spent 15 years as an 08039 Barcelona, Spain officer in the French navy. Tel: +34 93 3068800 During this time he gained Fax: +34 93 3068817 an MSc in Oceanography [email protected] from the University of the [email protected] US Navy in Monterey, California, in the process MedCruise News gaining fluent and written Editor: Mary Bond Seatrade Communications Ltd and spoken English. Former president and new exchanging views Tel: +44 1206 545121 On leaving the Navy he Fax: +44 1206 545190 spent five years working for different engineering software companies in Aix-en-Provence. In [email protected] 1996 he was appointed director of ports for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Nice Côte d'Azur which collectively welcome 2m passengers a year. Production Editor: In his spare time Monsaingeon likes astronomy, watercolour painting and mountain hiking. Fiona Hockey He is also a captain in the Naval Reserve and a French Knight of the Order of Merit. Monsaigneon's first public appearance as President of MedCruise was at Seatrade Europe in Hamburg where he was invited to join the Destination Panel on November 2nd, just 13 days after being elected to the new role. Published by Seatrade Communications Ltd

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