Port of Southampton business leaders will be gathering on 13 July for their annual Port City Futures Convention. The event, hosted by regional business champion Business Southampton, will see both delegates and spokespeople debating the future of their port, as well as the challenges and opportunities the industry currently faces.

Port Director, Doug Morrison will present the Port of Southampton's Master Plan, outlining the growth plans and strategy for the next 20 years. Gary Whittle from Meachers Global Logistics, will present the ‘Transport Vision for Southampton' featuring the outcomes and proposed actions arising from the Transport Summit held in March.

John Marden from Carnival UK and Paul Randall from Royal Caribbean will discuss how their industry is bucking the trend, as despite the sharp economic downturn Southampton remains the UK's cruise capital. In 2009 alone nearly one million cruise passengers will pass through Southampton.

The event will take place at ABP's new £19m Ocean Terminal, which was opened in May this year and is the first purpose-built cruise facility to be built at the port in over 40 years.

More details are available from www.businesssouthampton.com