Despite right whale restrictions, cruise ships still stopping in city
New speed restrictions aimed at protecting right whales will not affect Montreal’s cruise-ship industry, the Port of Montreal says.
“We’re a destination and an embarkation point, so it will not have an effect because the cruise ships have to get here,” said Mélanie Nadeau, a Port spokesperson.
In Gaspé, 10 cruise ships have cancelled mid-cruise stops, leaving the region’s tourism industry reeling, Le Soleil reported on Tuesday.
In August, the federal government ordered large vessels to slow down in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Ten of the endangered mammals have died in the gulf since early June, some of them after colliding with ships.
Vessels of 20 metres or more will be required to slow to 10 knots — or about 19 kilometres per hour — in the western Gulf of St. Lawrence, from the Quebec North Shore to just north of Prince Edward Island.
In 2016, Montreal welcomed 90,000 cruise-ship passengers and crew members, who contributed about $23 million in tourist spending in the city, according to the Montreal Cruise Committee, which brings together government agencies and local businesses. Montreal’s cruise ship season runs from May to October.
As for ships carrying merchandise to and from the port, “apart from a few adjustments in schedules, (the speed restrictions have) not had an impact on us,” Nadeau said. “Because everybody is facing the same delays, it’s not causing any major traffic problems.”
The Port of Montreal says its activities support about 16,000 jobs and generate $2.1 billion in economic benefits annually.