ELIRE Infra Smart Hubs Alleviate Global Cruise Terminal Strain.
- Shareen Ali
- Jun 19
- 4 min read
Port Challenges: Growing cruise tourism and larger ships are straining capacity and creating congestion at traditional ports.
Modular Solution: ELIRE Smart Hubs offer flexible, floating terminals to expand capacity without land expansion.
Sustainable & Efficient: These hubs support decarbonisation with clean energy and rapid deployment, minimising environmental impact.
As global cruise tourism surges past pre-pandemic levels, port infrastructure is reaching a critical tipping point. With cruise passenger volumes expected to exceed 36 million by 2026, and next-generation cruise ships carrying over 7,000 passengers and crew per call, traditional cruise terminals are under growing operational and environmental strain.
ELIRE Infra’s pioneering solution is the Smart Hub and Power Hub, floating, modular, and environmentally intelligent cruise terminal and energy to power source solutions designed to meet the spatial, energy, and logistical demands of the modern cruise industry.
Cruise Ports Face Unprecedented Pressure:
According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), over 70% of global cruise ports are struggling with berth capacity limitations. Cruise ports, particularly in historic or space-constrained cities, face several entrenched issues and limited waterfront real estate makes it difficult to expand terminals without significant land reclamation or disruption to city layouts.
Growing ship sizes demand longer quays, deeper berths, as new cruise vessels often exceed 330 meters in length, outpacing the physical limitations of many destinations.
In addition, port and high-capacity passenger processing facilities requirements are often incompatible with existing port infrastructure, with peak congestion in seasonal destinations like the Mediterranean and Northern Europe leading to long delays during embarkation and disembarkation as seasonal spikes in cruise traffic create congestion, strain customs and security operations, and overwhelm amenities.
Furthermore, environmental regulations increasingly require ports to offer shore power and cleaner logistics, adding new infrastructure burdens on already tight budgets.
Environmental impacts from ships at berth are also a significant issue, with emissions equivalent to 10,000 cars running continuously.
Transport overload is another concern, with over 30% of port cities reporting negative mobility impacts during cruise calls.
Port cities also face challenges related to berth allocation, with cruise lines competing for limited docking slots, often years in advance. Additionally, seasonality presents a problem, as many terminals are inactive for nearly half the year despite increasing pressure for year-round economic return.
ELIRE Smart Hubs: Designed for the Future of Cruise Ports:
ELIRE Infra Smart Hubs address these exact constraints, presenting a forward-thinking plug-and-play solution by providing floating, modular infrastructure that can be rapidly deployed with minimal environmental impact.
These hubs represent a scalable, flexible approach that can be added to ports to address the increasing demands of cruise tourism without permanent changes to the landscape, creating new operational space on the water without requiring costly or invasive shoreline expansion.
Key features include floating cruise terminals with integrated passenger lounges, customs, and security screening areas that can be deployed directly on water—expanding processing capacity without needing to build on land. Plug-and-play shore power capabilities enable the hubs to connect to cruise vessels, significantly reducing in-port emissions, noise, and fuel consumption.
Additionally, Smart Hubs can be leased for specific timeframes, scaled up or down, and even relocated to accommodate seasonal surges or one-off events—something fixed infrastructure cannot achieve.
These hubs also feature smart mobility integration, allowing seamless interfaces with electric ferries, autonomous shuttles, or last-mile transit options, improving passenger experience and reducing local traffic congestion. Furthermore, ELIRE’s use of digital twin technology supports planning and operations, optimizing layout, capacity, and predictive maintenance, delivering efficiency gains over time.
ELIRE Infra Smart Hubs can be utilised as floating cruise terminals that can be fully equipped with essential facilities such as customs, security, and passenger amenities. ELIRE Infra’s, Power Hubs provide additional integrated shore power supporting decarbonization goals and helping meet EU mandates for zero emissions at berth by 2030.
The hubs are engineered using a hexagonal modular design, configurable in units ranging from 400 to 1,600 sqm, allowing them to expand or contract based on demand.
ELIRE Smart Hubs are also rapidly deployable, becoming operational within 12–18 months, compared to the typical 5–10 years required for traditional port construction.
Furthermore, the cost-efficient leasing model offers flexible 5–20 year terms that reduce capital outlay and allow for shared, multi-user infrastructure.
Built for the Challenges of Modern Cruising:
“Cruise tourism is growing at a record pace, but many cities simply don’t have the space, time, or capital to expand the way they used to. The flexibility of the ELIRE Smart Hub platform allows for both homeport and transit operations.
These hubs also provide shore power and alternative fuel capabilities, such as LNG, methanol, and hydrogen, to support the next generation of ships.
By extending the cruise season in destinations historically limited by weather or infrastructure, ELIRE Smart Hubs offer a practical solution for the future of cruising,” said Luke Jenkinson, CEO and Founder of ELIRE Infra, part of the ELIRE Group.
“This innovation not only benefits port authorities and cruise lines but also contributes positively to local economies and communities by facilitating increased tourism and associated economic activities.” He added.
Built for the Challenges of Modern Cruising:
Unlike traditional terminal expansions that involve permanent land reclamation and significant environmental impact, ELIRE Smart Hubs offer low-impact, reversible deployment. Their ability to serve as clean energy Power Hubs further enhances their long-term value, supporting vessel refuelling and shore connectivity in line with global decarbonization goals.
With applications already underway in offshore wind, electric freight corridors, and clean energy terminals, the ELIRE Smart Hub platform is positioned to revolutionise cruise port planning worldwide.
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