New COVID-19 app for river cruise ports in Europe

The app PORT SEE makes it easier for shipping companies and tour operators to quickly find information per port.

Jul 27, 2020 - 22:36
New COVID-19 app for river cruise ports in Europe

River cruise ports in the South and West of the Netherlands, Port of Amsterdam and MUST SEE are launching the app PORT SEE for up-to-date insight into the accessibility of ports for river cruise ships.

The corona crisis has literally stopped many cruise ships. Fortunately, the business is slowly recovering, but the situation is still changing on a daily basis. That is why it is important for shipping companies to be able to easily check at any time which ports are open and what measures, if any, apply there. It is important for ports to be able to update changes in COVID measures quickly. The Port SEE app meets this need and is a new platform for the river cruise sector in Europe. The app contains up-to-date data on the accessibility of berths in ports for river cruise ships and which COVID measures apply there. The system is intended for shipping companies, ports, tour operators, cities and city marketing.

Dutch Delta Cruise Port, Port of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cruise Port and the international tourist platform MUST SEE have joined forces to support and strengthen the river cruise sector. The app PORT SEE makes it easier for shipping companies and tour operators to quickly find information per port.

Monic van der Heyden, commercial manager cruise at Port of Amsterdam, says:

"We see across Europe that the rules in ports for the river cruise are different everywhere, even within a country. It is impossible for shipping companies and tour operators to keep track of all the websites of the various port cities. That's why, together with Cruise ports in the south and west of the Netherlands, we have had the Port SEE system developed."

The cruise ports in Europe can add their own data to the app. Users can then easily create a login after which all data of the relevant port will be at their disposal. Think about which COVID measures apply in the port in question, up to available berths and facilities.

A port may be open to river cruise ships, but if the city or area itself is largely locked (due to a corona outbreak) it is not an attractive landing place. 
Later this year, the follow-up version of the system will be launched that includes the crowd control function. Maikel Coomans of MUST SEE says:

"You will then be able to see in real time where, for example, cities are going to be too busy because of tourism. Shipping companies could choose to skip a city or visit this area at another time."

It is also interesting for shipping companies and tour operators to see the flow of tourists from the river cruise sector.

The app is available on Android as well as IOS.