Cargo and passenger handling specialist Southampton Cargo Handling is to launch a wholly-owned subsidiary organisation dedicated to handling cruise and passenger vessels.

The new division, to be known as Cruise and Passenger Services (CPS), will handle up to 200 passenger ships a year through Southampton, the UK's leading port for cruise ships.

In addition, CPS will offer an expanded range of services tailored to the cruise ship industry. Besides dealing with passenger baggage, loading stores and ship mooring, it will provide stores consolidation, security, and passenger reception activities such as ticketing and check-in services.