Port must plan for bigger cruise ships

THE boom in the cruise industry could hit Townsville but the region is unlikely to benefit for another three years because the ships are growing too big too quickly.

A review of the northeast Shipping Management Plan, four years after it was released, noted there was likely to be “continued growth” in cruise shipping numbers, especially for ports in Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns if proposed projects advanced.

But for the Port of Townsville, this growth could be years away as cruise liners expand faster than the channel.

A Port of Townsville spokeswoman confirmed 12 cruise ships were due to dock in the 2019/20 financial year, down from the 16 that arrived in 2018/19.

“A key reason behind the drop in ships coming to Townsville relates to cruise companies purchasing larger ships, which are currently unable to call at the Port of Townsville,” she said.

“For example P&O has been redeploying its fleet and selling ships as part of its plans to buy larger ships.

“P&O sold the Pacific Eden last year, which was the ship that had a partial turnaround (244 passengers boarded and 183 disembarked) in Townsville in September 2018.”

The Port of Townsville channel can currently only take ships up to 238m in length but will be able to accept ships up to 300m in length by 2023.

“Our key strategy to attract more cruise ships is part of the rationale behind undertaking the $193 million Channel Upgrade project,” a spokeswoman said. “A worldwide trend is seeing cruise ships getting bigger and ships will continue to bypass Townsville unless we undertake the widening of the navigational channel.”

The Northeast Shipping Management Plan review found record shipping growth was occurring on the Queensland coast, with safety also increasing. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said increased trade in Queensland meant the number of carriers, cargo vessels and passenger ships travelling through the state’s water had grown 2.6 per cent.

Mr Bailey said he expected trade on Queensland’s coast to continue growing, with global demand for hydrogen increasing, and the market expected to reach $US155 billion by 2022.