Procurement of a Commercial Partner to Develop, Manage, and Operate a City Centre Cruise Terminal, including passenger and vehicle boarding bridge, pontoons, and associated infrastructure in Hull

Hull City Council is seeking to establish a Cruise Terminal Facility, close to the city centre of Hull. This contract is an opportunity to become the Council's commercial and operating partner involved in this development, which has a project name of 'Cruise Hull Yorkshire' (CHY).

The commercial partner will be involved in the development, construction and operation of the cruise terminal in Hull. At present this facility is unfunded and the Council is preparing a funding bid to the UK Central Government for approximately £ 60 million GBP to enable construction.

The success of this funding bid is critical to the realisation of the project, and the appointed Commercial Partner will be actively involved in the funding bid process. The Council has set aside resources to complete the design stages of the terminal and infrastructure, to develop and to submit the capital funding bid, and to develop and submit planning applications and to apply for the statutory consents required.

Support from the Commercial Partner will include providing inputs in to the development of, and the presenting of, the funding bid and in the provision of support during the submission process. Initially, the successful Commercial Partner will assist the Council by committing both time and expertise, and to advise and assist the Council to develop the existing outline designs, including providing advice with respect to construction and engineering methods.

The Council has completed a market feasibility study, navigational, and infrastructure and Shorex assessments. A range of other studies are in commission, including noise and vibration studies.

All of these will support the Environmental Impact Assessments and Habitats Regulations Assessments; these will continue to be developed with the expertise of the Commercial Partner. In terms of vessel visits to the Hull cruise terminal facility, it is expected that the cruise terminal business growth profile is gradual, starting with 7 vessel visits in year 1, growing to between 50 - 60 cruise vessel visits by year 15, but with the potential to grow to serve 80 cruise visiting vessels per annum by year 25.

The Council requires the Commercial Partner to have an integrated approach to development, construction and operations, bringing co-financing and extensive knowledge of the cruise industry and port functions and technology. Following contract award, the public private commercial partnership will be formed and responsibilities for administration, governance, finance and commercial accountabilities as set out in the successful final tender will be implemented and the Partner will assume financial and commercial responsibilities.

Full details of the tender opportunity are available through the Council's electronic tender portal, YORtender, which can be accessed via weblink https://www.yortender.co.uk. The specific YORtender Ref. is DN389036; this tender has also been advertised in the OJEU, specific OJEU Ref. 2019/S 019-040866