STEAM AHEAD
Dredging to have crews, businesses dancing on docks
WHEN the expected 300m floating city-like cruise ships dock in Cairns next year, business will follow down the gangway.
Wharf One cafe owner Will Nevil is well placed – at Trinity Wharf – to see the follow on effects of cruise ship visits to Cairns.
He expects the high-end luxury liners to help fill the coffers in the city’s economy by feeding the support services that attend their arrivals.
“It is very rare for a big boat not to come to Cairns without having maintenance touchups,” Mr Nevile said.
“When they come in there is high-end machinery that comes in to serve the boat – it is not counted because it is all part of the process.”
He said crew, security and support staff had become regular customers and were putting money earned with each ship back into the economy.
“The crew and support staff are easy to identify and keep coming back on the return trips – they are the regular business,” Mr Nevile said. “The ships have dance troupes and circus troupes and often they’ll want to come in for a coffee and to use the internet.”
Ports North is keeping tight-lipped about the expected big ships – none of those listed in the 2019 schedule for the city exceed 261m.
But those still slated to be moored off Yorkeys Knob include the 294m Norwegian Jewel and Costa Lumiosa, and stretching the tape measure at 330m, the Majestic Princess due next December. A Ports North spokesman kept to the official line regarding the May-September dredging project: “The wider and deeper channel will allow cruise ships up to 300 metres in length, to berth at the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal.”
Tropical Tourism North Queensland CEO Pip Close was optimistic about what the project would mean for the local economy.
“The dredging will ensure solid bookings from 2020 and beyond ensuring our place as a strong future cruise destination by delivering the best passenger experience,” Ms Close said.
“We are one of few ports in Australia that people can disembark right into the city.
“Retail outlets, especially DFS Galleria, do good business with the cruise ships as does the Reef Hotel Casino, while Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and the Cairns Aquarium are among the attractions passengers visit.” She said the first 300m ship was expected to arrive next October.
“There will be a lag between the dredging happening and the response from cruise lines with forward bookings,” she said. “We won’t see the full extent of the opportunity until 2020 and beyond as most of the schedules are already planned for 2019.”
Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said the dredging opened up possibilities for the hosting of large naval ships and super yachts.
“We haven’t even opened the oyster yet when it comes to super yachts – that could see us as a significant player.”