ENGLISH | PORT OF TORSHAVN - Satisfactory new beginnings

Oct 15, 20243 min read

In total, there were 46 visits from cruise ships, with 24,458 passengers onboard this year.

English version:

The cruise ship season is over for this year. On October 1, the last cruise ship, Hamburg, visited Tórshavn, marking the end of this season. In total, there were 46 visits from cruise ships, with 24,458 passengers onboard this year.

Most of the ships are familiar guests who have visited before, with some ships making multiple visits this year. Eight ships visited for the first time.

"This year went just as we expected. Three ships canceled their arrivals, which is not unusual," says Hanus Mikkelsen, the manager of the Port of Tórshavn.

In May, the large cruise ship Borealis, with about 1,000 passengers onboard, canceled its visit due to a strike in the Faroes. The other cancellations were due to weather.

The first registrations in the EPI database

In February, the Port of Tórshavn became a member of EPI – Environmental Port Index. EPI is a database that collects data on the environmental impact of cruise ships. Of the 46 arrivals, 37 ships registered their data in the system.

This year’s registration was voluntary, but in the future, ships coming to the port will be required to register their data in the EPI database. Based on the registrations, ships receive a score; the higher the score, the better.

The average score for registrations this year is 36. The lowest score is 9, while the highest is 91. For the ports we usually compare ourselves to, the scores range between 40-47. Based on the scores, specific adjustments can be made.

"The purpose of EPI is to encourage shipping companies and onboard staff involved with cruise ships to become more aware of their environmental impact and to make necessary changes," says Hanus Mikkelsen.

Bookings for cruise ships are made two to three years in advance. Nevertheless, the system will be implemented at the start of the 2025 season.

Local experts in the streets to guide the travellers

To ensure a better balance and experience between residents and visitors, the Port of Tórshavn and Visit Tórshavn have jointly employed a project coordinator to manage the area. This has led to a new initiative launched this summer: the local experts. The experts are retirees and others who have guided visitors when cruise ships arrive.

"We know from both residents, visitors, and the business community that the local experts have made a significant difference. They know a lot about Tórshavn and the Faroe Islands and can quickly direct tourists when they ask about specific shops or areas. We also believe that these individuals are key to ensuring a better balance and experience between residents and visitors," says Hanus Mikkelsen.

The need for experts varies depending on the number of passengers on the cruise ships. However, Tórshavn harbor and Visit Tórshavn welcome anyone who wants to join the team of local experts.

Exciting times ahead

In September this year, representatives from six Faroese ports attended a conference for cruise ships in Malaga. The ports shared a booth under the new collaboration as Cruise Faroe Islands. The goal of this collaboration is to provide inspiration and support each other while also improving conditions for cruise ships in the Faroe Islands. What more tangible results will come from this collaboration remains to be seen over time. Representatives of the Faroese ports under Cruise Faroe Islands meet regularly.

So far, 52 arrivals have been announced for next year, with an expectation of around 30,000 visitors to Tórshavn. The first ship visiting next year is Bolette, arriving on April 30.

Next year will likely be the last time the Port of Tórshavn welcomes cruise ships without a proper terminal. If all goes as planned, the new terminal will be ready for the 2026 season.

(Photo; portoftorshavn.fo)

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