Cruise with over 600 tourists aboard docks at city's port after 15 years
KARACHI (April 14 2010): The local authorities are rejoicing as hundreds of maritime tourists from across the globe turned up to the shores of terrorism-hit country in a world class passenger cruise after about 15 years. MS ALBATROS, a German cruise whose local agent is United Marine Agencies (UMA) and the operator is Phoenix Riesen, docked at Berth Number 5 of the Karachi Port after more than a decade with some 608 multinational passengers aboard.
The vessel, which had started its 140-day journey from the German port of Hamburg on December 23, would end its cruise on May 9 in Italy. The cruise was scheduled to sail off Karachi Port for Muscat at 7pm. "I would encourage the tourists to come up and visit Pakistan. I would like such (ship) calls to be made repeatedly," Chairperson Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Nasreen Haque, as a chief guest, told a welcome ceremony hosted by the UMA at the East Wharf.
Earlier, Chief Executive Officer of UMA Suhail Shams in his opening remarks said Pakistan needed more events of such type to make a mark in maritime tourism. "It is very reassuring to see that such a classic vessel has called at our port despite all the negatives that we keep hearing about Pakistan in the world media," he added.
Stressing the need to leave a lasting impression of Pakistani hospitality in the minds of over 600 maritime tourists, the UMA chief expressed hope that the multinational guests would introduce Pakistan as a peace-loving and worth-visiting place to their compatriots.
In his address, Captain Mortan Arne Hanson, the master of MS ALBATROS, thanked hosts saying it was a milestone for Karachi to host a passenger ship after 15 years. In his pre-ceremony media talk UMA CEO Suhail Shams said some 400 passengers had left the ship for a visit around the port city.
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Cruise with over 600 tourists aboard docks at city's port after 15 years
Re: Cruise with over 600 tourists aboard docks at city's port after 15 years
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