Sectors > Cruise & Other Waterborne Related Research

MVA BMSR group has very rich regional experiences in cruise and other waterborne related research, mainly for market entry and infrastructural enhancements.

Our experiences in this sector involve market and business research on demand forecast, new infrastructural development feasibility and opportunity assessment. Via primary and secondary data collection, we analyze the findings and forecast future needs and trends.

CRUISE

• Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Bid

MVA, as part of a team of multi-disciplinary consultants, was commission by a major private consortium to take a leading role in formulating marketing, management and operation strategies as part of a competitive bid preparation to design, build, operate and manage a cruise terminal (including associated commercial development) at the former Kai Tak runway site in Hong Kong under a 50-year concession. MVA also led the economic and tourism impact assessment for the cruise terminal development and undertook logistic planning of the cruise terminal pertaining to passenger flow simulation.

• Expression of Interest in Cruise Terminal Development in Hong Kong

MVA, as part of a team of multi-disciplinary consultants, was commission by a major cruise line and its other consortium members to put forward the case for the development at a designated harbour-front site as an interim cruise terminal facility for Hong Kong. MVA led the underlying cruise market analysis, cruise operation/terminal conceptualization and land transport connectivity assessment.

• Singapore Cruise Research Study

MVA undertook a major 5-month strategy and research study, commissioned by the Singapore Tourism Board, to formulate a comprehensive strategy for the development of the Singapore cruise market and its competitive positioning as a major cruise hub in the short, medium and long term. As part of this Study, the economic benefits of cruising to the Singapore economy were also examined.

• Xiamen Cruise City Development

MVA led the market, tourism and planning stream of a multi-disciplinary team of consultants who won the design competition, commissioned by the Xiamen Harbour Bureau, for the development of an international cruise city in the eastern coast of China covering an area of about 40-hectares.

• Market Study and Economic Assessment of Cruise Development in Hong Kong

In this update study for a major cruise line, MVA recently completed a review of the development of the current Hong Kong cruise market and estimated the economic benefits of the expansion of the Hong Kong cruise market to the Hong Kong economy over the next 10 years.

• Market Study and Economic Assessment of Cruise Development in Hong Kong

MVA undertook a study commissioned by a major cruise line to examine the development of the current Hong Kong cruise market and to formulate a strategy for further development of the cruise business, covering the development of both hard and soft supporting infrastructure. As part of this Study, the economic benefits of expansion of the Hong Kong cruise market to the Hong Kong economy was also examined.

• Cruise Ferry and Harbour Cruise Preliminary Market Assessment

MVA, as part of a multi-disciplinary team of consultants commissioned by a private investor to examine the development potential of a site in Hong Kong, led the preliminary market assessment for the provision of harbour cruise and cross-boundary cruise ferry services.

• Study on the Cruise Market of Hong Kong

In this major study for the Hong Kong Tourism Board, MVA assessed the regional and world cruise scene with a view to better understanding the underlying trends, growth prospects and development of new emerging markets and their impacts on the potential of positioning Hong Kong as a major cruise hub. As part of this study, an economic impact assessment was undertaken. Detailed face-to-face interviews were also carried out with the world’s leading cruise lines and other stakeholders around the world and in Asia. A fax survey amongst a selection of travel agents world-wide was also carried out by the Consultants. This study culminated in the first comprehensive strategy for the development of the Hong Kong cruise market.

• Cruise Terminal Conceptual Design & Site Assessment

In a major extension assignment for the Study on the Cruise Market of Hong Kong for the tourism authorities, MVA was commissioned to develop an initial conceptual design for a possible cruise terminal at a pre-determined site in urban Hong Kong. The assignment also involved carrying an operation and facility planning diagnostic review of the existing cruise facility at Ocean Terminal, with a view to developing enhancement alternatives.

• Concept Master Layout Plan for Cruise City Development in Shanghai

MVA was commissioned by a private investor to formulate a concept master layout plan for the building of a revolutionary “cruise city” on the Shanghai waterfront.

• Market and Economic Study of the Development of the Shanghai Cruise Sector

MVA was commissioned by a major cruise line to assess the potential of developing the cruise market in Shanghai. The study examined the existing market, its underlying growth potential and opportunities, and possible restraining forces and barriers to entry. A strategy was formulated for the development of the sector, including an impact assessment on the benefits of an expanded cruise sector to the Shanghai economy.

• Terminal Enhancement at Shekou Port for Cruise Operations, Pearl River Delta, Mainland China

MVA acted as Project Manager on behalf of Star Cruises in the implementation of physical enhancements to the existing international ferry terminal and adjacent berthing area at Shekou Port to accommodate the operations of cruise ships, including the design, construction and supervision of a 400m passenger link bridge and the fulfillment of both immigration and customs requirements.

• Market Review of Development of the China Cruise Market

MVA was commissioned by a private investor to undertake a market overview of the potential for development of the cruise business in Mainland China.

OTHER WATERBORNE RELATED RESEARCH

• Ferry Market Study in the Pearl River Delta Region

MVA undertook a study to evaluate the market potential for ferry services in the Pearl River Delta Region, including a 15-year demand assessment as part of an exercise to support potential fund raising efforts in the regional capital market.

• Impact Study on Cross-Harbour Ferry Patronage and Revenue

MVA undertook a study to examine the impacts on cross-harbour ferry services from the introduction of new rail services in the next 3 to 4 years, including the impacts resulting from the planned ferry pier and bus terminus relocation and the associated construction works prior to the opening of the new rail services.

• Preliminary Market Study of New Ferry Service

MVA, on behalf of a private investor, carried out an initial desktop assessment of the market potential for a new ferry service in Victoria Harbour focusing on two major nodes of existing leisure and commuting activities.

• Study on Future Development of Waterborne Transport Services

MVA acted as specialist financial advisor in this multi-disciplinary study to examine how to make the best use of Hong Kong’s existing water and pier resources with an objective to enhance public transport for the traveling public.

• Market Study into Ferry Service Expansion in the Pearl River Delta Region

MVA undertook a study to evaluate the market potential for an expanded ferry service in the Pearl River Delta Region, including a ten-year demand assessment and the identification of development opportunities and barriers to entry within the existing operating and regulatory environment. The research techniques included collecting passenger surveys and count data during ferry embarkation and disembarkation.

• Regional Ferry Market Study for Private Investor

MVA designed and managed the development and application of a patronage/revenue forecasting model for a major regional ferry market in the Pearl River Delta, based on large-scale face-to-face surveys taking into account special issues relevant to the ferry market, such as attraction of casinos and regional competition in tourism/retail sectors.

• Bangkok Ferry and Micro-bus Surveys

MVA explored the socio-economic and attitudinal profiles of public transport passengers in Bangkok, based on a sample of 4,700 face-to-face interviews. MVA’s responsibility included survey design, co-ordination and inspection as well as detailed data analysis.

• Hong Kong Ferry Company - Corporate Strategy Study

MVA conducted route-by-route econometric analyses to project future demand trends of domestic ferry travel, covering different ”commuting” and “leisure” market segments, including inner-harbour, outlying island and new town ferry routes.

• Star Ferry Pier Relocation Study

MVA carried out a major attitudinal face-to-face interview survey to collect the opinions of Star Ferry passengers to ascertain whether they are likely to continue to use Star Ferry services if the pier were relocated. The survey involved a sample size of around 8,000. The data collected provided the main input to a demand model developed to estimate the number of passengers who would continue to travel by Star Ferry in the future.

• Review of Transport Infrastructure Developments in the Pearl River Delta Region

MVA was commissioned by the Central Policy Unit of the Hong Kong Government to examine the historical transport infrastructure developments in the PRD. The objective of the research was to identify the key driving and restraining forces underpinning the demand for, and supply of, transport linkages including waterborne services. The research focused on the impacts on movements of goods, services and people within the PRD Region over the last two decades and their implications over the next ten years.

• Strategic Review of the Development of Hong Kong Port and its Evolving Role in the Pearl River Delta Region

MVA embarked on an extensive research exercise for a private investor to understand the dynamics shaping the development of Hong Kong as a major port for South China and the associated transport and logistics policy and infrastructure development issues.

• Crosslink’s Further Study - Stage 1 Investigations on Traffic Demand, Hong Kong

MVA was the lead consultant of a major multi-disciplinary study investigating issues of future cross boundary traffic demand and infrastructure provision. The study produced a new cross boundary transport model and has three main elements - freight demand model, highway model and passenger model.

The model has three main elements of freight demand model, highway model and passenger model. The freight demand model produces forecasts of cross boundary “road eligible” cargo by geographical Origin to Destination and containerized/break-bulk cargo up to the year 2020. This is then fed into the highway model to forecast the river/road mode split, and resultant goods vehicle and container truck volumes by cross boundary crossing point and geographical Origin to Destination within the HKSAR. The forecasts are then combined with projected car and bus volumes to obtain total forecast traffic volumes for more detailed assessment within Hong Kong.

• Study on Port Back-up Facilities and Land Requirements

MVA provided transport planning input to the study for the Hong Kong Port Maritime Board PMB to investigate the potential for and implications of higher container productivity at Kwai Chung container port.

• Lantau Port & Western Harbour Development Studies

Following on from the Hong Kong Port & Development Strategy (PADS), the LAPHS study laid the foundation for the initial planning of the Northshore of Lantau Island including container terminals 10 to 13 and associated port back-up, business park and industrial land uses. MVA’s role was to produce updated container terminal road traffic forecasts based on comprehensive traffic surveys conducted at Kwai Chung port and to provide input to the land use planning and highway engineering work streams.

• Yantian Port Study

MVA was commissioned by the Shenzhen authority in Mainland China to carry out a traffic impact assessment of the surrounding road network as a result of the development of the Yantian Port. The study examined the traffic situation up to year 2020 and recommended improvement schemes for the short, medium and long-term.

• Kwai Chung and Lantau Port Access Studies

MVA has been the specialist traffic sub-consultant for the Sham Tseng Link and Route 10 North Lantau to Yuen Long Highway studies of the next road crossing to Lantau Island to relieve the Lantau Link and to the serve the proposed port development in Hong Kong. In addition, MVA has acted as specialist traffic sub-consultant for the feasibility study, investigation assignment, and now, design and construction contract of Route 9 Cheung Sha Wan to Sha Tin, and was responsible for all traffic forecasting elements of Route 3 Country Park Section as well as improvements to Tuen Mun Road.