SMS International Shore Operations Ltd, a subsidiary of the SMS Group, has been officially appointed by the internationally renowned company Norwegian Cruise Line to handle all of the line’s cruise operations out of Miami, Florida, as of February 2012.

SMS managing director, Sam Mifsud, said that “this is undoubtedly an enormous show of confidence in our company by a major international player in the cruise line industry, NCL, stemming from the reputation that SMS has garnered over the years with all major cruise liner companies”.

Mr Mifsud told The Times: “This is a milestone for our company and Miami is the largest hub for cruise line operations in the US. We aim to make Miami a stepping stone for further expansion in the US and plan to operate in Tampa and Port Canaveral (Orlando) later on next year, both of which are in Florida.”

For a good number of years SMS have been at the forefront in the provision of shore services for visiting cruise liners in Malta. Since May 1996, however, the company’s shore handling operations expanded beyond these shores when SMS was appointed agents for Norwegian’s Cruise Line calls in Dover, UK. Since then, SMS’ relationship with this global company has grown from strength to strength and, today, SMS International Shore Operations are already handling cruise line calls for NCL in Malta, Rome, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Copenhagen.

NCL currently own and operate 11 cruise liners, while another two new ships are planned to be launched. 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’ latest acquisition is NCL’s cruise line business in Miami, with effect from February 2012, where 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 2012 these figures are due to increase further when the company is expected to start providing similar services for NCL out of Tampa and Port Canaveral.

Mr Mifsud said: “This success could only have been achieved through hard work, keen attention to detail and genuine efforts to retain costs within reasonable levels while retaining a professional class of service. SMS today enjoys a relationship of complete mutual respect with NCL, which we look forward to fostering further and consolidating.” In confirming SMS’s appointment, NCL senior official Stephen Bock expressed his company’s belief in SMS’ capabilities: “We believe you are a seasoned professional with a path of successful operations with NCL. It goes without saying that we entrust our No.1 turn port in your capable hands having the confidence that your team will prove we made the right decision.”