LIVERPOOL'S new cruise liner terminal is on target to be completed in time to welcome the Queen Elizabeth 2 next year.
Liverpool's Culture Company will today begin searching for contractors to run the terminal at the Pier Head after it is completed in June.
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The £19m development will be officially launched when the QE2 cruises into the city for a spectacular day-long party on the Mersey for its 40th birthday celebrations on September 21.
Liverpool council officially gave the Culture Company authorisation to begin its search for terminal operators at a meeting of the Executive Board on Friday.
A review of the operators that have expressed an interest in bidding for the contract will take place next month. The council's executive member for special initiatives, Cllr Mike Storey, said last night: "Conducting the search for operators of the cruise liner is another part of the jigsaw.
"The cruise liner terminal will be a huge asset to Liverpool. The city grew because of its river and we have a world heritage site on the waterfront, yet at the moment we do not have the infrastructure for people to see it.
"It is fantastic that the terminal is still on target to be completed by next summer and in time for 2008."
The new terminal at Princes Dock will allow the biggest and best cruise ships to berth in Liverpool. The 250m extension of the landing stage and the development of a link span bridge for vehicles will make it possible for Liverpool to be a major cruise destination.
The impact on tourism is set to be huge, with around 25 ships a year making Liverpool a port of call, and estimates of around 100,000 extra visitors expected between its launch and 2010.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to flock to the waterfront on next year to take part in the spectacular QE2 event.
The visit by the world-famous liner will mark the opening ceremony for the new cruise liner terminal at the Pier Head.
Work on the £18m floating landing stage, which was planned to be up and running this year, will begin in April, with most of the work carried out at Cammell Laird.
It is hoped it will make the port even busier with cruise companies already vying to bring their floating palaces to the city.
Earlier this year, clients of the Holland America line voted Liverpool among the top 10 ports of call out of 300 destinations.
jessicashaughnessy @dailypost.co.uk
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