The Port de Montréal receives four more Awards of Excellence for its cruise operations

MONTREAL, March 21, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - For the fourth consecutive year, the Port of Montreal's cruise operations were signalled out by the prestigious magazine Cruise Insight (formerly Dream World Cruise Destinations). This year, for the first time, the Port of Montreal received the Most Responsive Port award, which recognizes ports that respond the fastest and most efficiently to requests from cruise shipping lines.

The Port of Montreal also received: for the third consecutive year, the Best Turnaround Destination award, which recognizes cruise destinations that offer passengers a superior welcome; for the second consecutive year, the Most Efficient Terminal Operator award, which recognizes the most efficiently managed and operated cruise terminals; and for a third year (2008, 2009 and 2011), the Best Turnaround Port Operations award, which recognizes ports that stand out for the excellence of their cruise infrastructures.

"We are proud to once again receive awards that draw attention to the efficiency and quality of the services we provide to cruise shipping lines and international passengers. This is a recognition that I would also like to share with our partners on the Montreal Cruise Committee which, for more than a year, has been working with us to make Montreal a great cruise destination," stated Sylvie Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal Port Authority.

Supported by the Ministère du Tourisme du Québec, the Montreal Cruise Committee brings together the Montreal Port Authority, Tourisme Montréal, Aéroports de Montréal, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, the Old Port of Montreal Corporation, the Hotel Association of Greater Montreal, the City of Montreal, Casino de Montréal and the Société de développement commercial du Vieux-Montréal.

In 2011, the Port of Montreal welcomed 22 international cruise ships and 18 domestic cruise ships, for a total of more than 46,000 passengers and crew members. This year, the cruise season, which will begin on May 12 and end on October 24, should mark a record as we expect close to 55,000 passengers.

Information on the arrivals and departures of cruise ships can be found on the Port of Montreal's website, at: www.port-montreal.com.

About the Port of Montreal

Operated by the Montreal Port Authority (MPA), the Port of Montreal is a major diversified transshipment centre that handles all types of goods - containerized and non-containerized cargo, liquid bulk and dry bulk.

A leading container port on the Atlantic, it is served by seven of the ten largest container shipping lines in the world. Strategically located in North America's heartland, it provides first class access to the markets of Quebec, Ontario and the U.S. Northeast and Midwest. The Port of Montreal handled 1,362,975 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in 2011, representing 12,471,002 tonnes of cargo.

The Port also handled 10,760,649 tonnes of liquid bulk products, 3,431,811 tonnes of dry bulk products and 1,741,035 tonnes of grain in 2011.

The Port of Montreal owns its own rail network, operated directly on the piers. It is connected to both national railway networks and a highway network.

The Port also operates a passenger terminal that welcomed 38,031 passengers and crew members in 2011. All the other terminals are managed by private stevedoring companies.

Port activity supports 18,200 jobs and generates $1.5 billion in economic spin-offs per year.

For further information:

Michèle Beaubien
Director of Communications
[e-mail]
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.port-montreal.com