Southampton docks has revealed the name of its new cruise terminal to be opened later this year. Shipping Editor KEITH HAMILTON gets the lowdown on the port's latest developments...

Southampton's latest dockside development for the rapidly growing British cruise industry is to be called the City Cruise Terminal.

The name is revealed as Associated British Ports (ABP), owners and operators of Southampton docks, shows off the group's major reconstruction and refurbishment projects at the passenger cruise terminals in the city today.

The City Cruise Terminal is to be officially opened by the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mrs Mary Fagan on Thursday, August 14 during a special quayside event.

Now under construction at 101 berth in the Western Docks, the new terminal will be able to handle the biggest cruise vessels sailing and also provide a close-up view of the ships from the nearby Mayflower Park.

Southampton is now the premier port in the country catering for the UK's multi-million pound cruise industry and the wide-ranging upgrades to the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal in the Eastern Docks and Mayflower Terminal in the Western Docks have been undertaken to cope with the huge increase in traffic.

ABP is also showing industry representatives its development of the City Cruise Terminal at 101 berth in the Western Docks reflecting the upsurge in passenger numbers now crossing the quayside.

The Queen Elizabeth II Terminal has been revamped and enlarged in readiness for the arrival of Cunard's, Queen Mary 2, the world's largest liner, at the end of this year while P&O Cruises' addition of the two superliners, Adonia and Oceana, to its Southampton fleet sparked the total facelift of the Mayflower Terminal at 106 berth.

To underline Southampton's number one position in this increasing port trade, one of the top luxury cruise lines is bringing its latest luxury vessel, Crystal Serenity, to Southampton tomorrow.

Crystal Serenity is due to arrive in port, alongside the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal at 38/9 berth, at about 4pm.

The Crystal Cruises' ship will then be officially named by singer and film star, Dame Julie Andrews, in a prestigious dockside ceremony on Thursday.

This will be the fifth naming ceremony to be held in Southampton docks so far this year.