SMS to begin shore handling operations in the USA

SMS International Shore Operations Ltd, a subsidiary of the SMS Group, have been appointed agents by Norwegian Cruise Line, for its cruise operations out of Miami, Florida, as of next February.

SMS will be handling both vessel turnarounds as well as shore excursions for at least 240 cruise line calls annually.

This translates into approximately 1.4 million passengers every year.

Towards September, these figures are due to increase further, when the company is expected to start providing similar services out of the ports of Tampa and Port Canaveral, also in Florida.

For a good number of years SMS has been at the forefront in the provision of shore services for visiting cruise liners in Malta.

Since May 1996, its shore handling operations expanded beyond Maltese shores when SMS were appointed agents for Norwegian's Cruise Line calls in Dover, UK.

Since then, SMS' relationship with this company has grown from strength to strength and, today, SMS International Shore Operations are now handling cruise line calls for NCL in Malta, Rome, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Copenhagen.

NCL currently own and operate 11 cruise liners and it plans to launch another two.

Although SMS have been handling cruise calls for various major cruise line companies around Europe and North Africa over the past 15 years, this will be the first time that the Maltese company is extending its operations across the Atlantic, within the United States.

SMS International Shore Operations Ltd managing director Sam Mifsud said this was a significant milestone for a Maltese company.

"This success could only have been achieved through hard work, keen attention to detail and genuine efforts to retain costs within reasonable levels whilst retaining a professional class of service.