THE Haven Gateway served up beer with a "green" twist as part of a drive to promote the subregion for cruise business.

Cruise delegates visiting the Haven Gateway / Harwich International Port stand at the Seatrade Europe cruise convention in Hamburg were encouraged to stay a while - and sample Suffolk brewery Adnams' unique low-carbon "East Green" beer, while finding out about some of the many other attractions for cruise visitors in the region.

A brewery visit is, of course, just one of the unusual possibilities for cruise lines looking for excursion from the leading UK cruise port of Harwich International.

Among many others, cruise passengers can visit Colchester, Britain's oldest recorded town; the Sutton Hoo burial site in Suffolk: historic Harwich, the home of the Mayflower's Capt Christopher Jones; Dedham Vale, made famous by artists Constable and Munnings; historic wool towns and stunning churches; and country houses and gardens.

Looking ahead, Harwich will be well placed to attract cruise lines wishing to include excursions to the 2012 London Olympics.

The "Taste of the Coast" stand in Hamburg, run by the Haven Gateway and Harwich International Port in partnership with East of England Tourism, Birketts Solicitors, the Suffolk Chamber, Adnams and Catapult, successfully promoted the subregion as a destination, and Harwich International Port as a port for cruise turnrounds and also day calls.

It followed hot on the heels of the official opening of a multi-million pound new cruise passenger gangway at Harwich International.

"We know from experience that cruise companies are always looking for new and 'different' passenger excursion opportunities," said Haven Gateway Project Director Richard Morton.  "Harwich International Port has a first class reputation as a cruise handling port and the Haven Gateway has a huge amount to offer in terms of beautiful countryside, historic buildings, vibrant towns and unique visitor attractions; we are determined to make the most of these."

Delegates from the Haven Gateway made double use of their journey to Hamburg, attending an important European conference on container operations and terminals just prior to the cruise convention.  The conference was the final event in the European Union Port-Net project, in which the Haven Gateway played a leading role as a core partner.

Port-Net a collaboration of 20 European ports, looked at common challenges across the European ports sector and considered ways to create better operational structures and capacities, and achieve the best regional integration of ports.