The Port of Leixões Cruise Terminal is one of the major projects promoted by APDL – Administration of the Ports of Douro, Leixões and Viana do Castelo, integrated in the Strategic Development Plan for the Port of Leixões and which results from a dynamic of territorial cooperation, linking two main objectives: on the one hand, to improve the commercial efficiency of the port, associated with the cruise activity and, on the other hand, of urban integration, associated with increasing sociability with the surrounding population. The Cruise Terminal is the biggest project ever to open the port to the city, making the Port of Leixões an important gateway to the region and definitely boosting the growth in the number of cruise ships and passengers in Leixões, assuming each more like a cruise port. The 340m long pier was opened in April 2011, allowing the largest cruise ships to stop in Leixões, now hosting most of the cruise ships of the current world fleet. The Terminal is located at Molhe Sul of the Port of Leixões, just 3 km from the city of Porto and includes:
Cruise facilities (Dedicated pier, other possible pier, pier length 340m, depths 10m, maximum ship length 300m, certification according to ISPS);
Mooring (Mandatory piloting for entry and exit, Tidal range 3.7m. max., no stay limits.);
Service for cruise ships ( Ship services, supply by truck, water, supplies.);
Passenger services (Information and reception with tourist guides, tourist maps, banks/currency exchange, shop, taxis, buses, bus parking area, public toilets.)
Passenger Station, located in the central building of the complex, with several facilities for ships in stopover, or that carry out embarkation/disembarkation of passengers. No capacity limit for passengers in transit and with capacity for 2500 passengers in turnaround (boarding and alighting); Fluvio-maritime pier for mooring vessels that provide tourist itineraries on the Douro River; Nautical Recreation Port for 170 vessels and respective minimum support services for vessels, spaces of convenience and support functions for crew and navigators; Parking for buses and vehicles along the pier and indoor parking. The Port of Leixões Cruise Terminal also houses the University of Porto's Sea Science and Technology Park and several research units with a maritime vocation (from Biology to Robotics), serving especially as a hub for incubating new companies that will benefit economically. of innovations developed at the University.
In addition, this new building is also the headquarters of CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Center for Marine Research of the University of Porto, one of the most relevant national research units in the area of Marine Sciences, integrated in one of the only 25 State-Associated Laboratories in the country. In addition to CIIMAR, other research units at the University of Porto with projects related to the Sea, develop their work here, namely projects for the development of underwater technologies (such as autonomous underwater vehicles) in their own spaces for carrying out tests and experiments in an environment maritime.
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