Cruise liner crisis looms

Port coal dust could rob region of millions in tourism income

THE lucrative cruise liner tourism season may well be lost to the region as a result of the huge volumes of coal dust in the Port of Richards Bay.

Directly linked to the vast amounts of coal being trucked in, stockpiled and loaded onto vessels in the harbour, the plumes of black soot will be a major deterrent to passenger liner operators.

The matter came to the attention of the ZO following an enquiry from a tourism marketing manager in Germany who had received a cancellation notice in which it was stated that Richards Bay would be closed to cruise liners this season.

“This would be a disaster for the tourism industry, especially after the two devastating Covid years,” he said.

“I am working with a group here in Germany planning a world cruise that would stop in Richards Bay for two days, bringing in revenue of around R200 000. Imagine adding it up for all the tourism businesses!”

A port source said no decision had been taken on the matter and meetings were being planned.

However, shipping agents had been warned of the incessant dust issues that presently require masks to be worn on the dirty quaysides.

“They have been told that there will be no clean berth for passenger liners; also, vessels of over 200m may only stay for 24 hours,” the source said.

In the past, some cruise line operators threatened never to return to Richards Bay in light of the fact that the ships had to continually be cleaned of dust emanating from the coal terminal.

The problem is now far greater, with no end in sight, and it may well be that stopovers here will be cancelled, which would prove a massive blow to the local tourism industry.

Provisional cruise liner schedules published ahead of the current situation show a huge amount of potential tourism spend that could be lost.

9HVVHO DUULYDO QXPEHU RI SDVVHQJHUV

22 Oct: MS Europa 2 (516)

3 Nov: MS Europa 2 (516) 18 Nov: AIDAaura (1 300)

20 Nov: MS Zaandam (1 718) 2 Dec: AIDAaura (1 300)

16 Dec: AIDAaura (1 300)

17 Dec: Norwegian Jade (2 882) 17 Dec: Seven Seas Voyager (777) 25 Dec: MV Norwegian Jade

(2 882)

27 Dec: Azamara Journey (781) 30 Dec: AIDAaura (1 300)

1 Jan: Seven Seas Voyager (777) 1 Jan: Oceania Nautica (803) 6 Jan: Norwegian Jade (2 882) 9 Jan: Azamara Journey (781) 13 Jan: AIDAaura (1 300)

15 Jan: Oceania Nautica (803) 7 Jan: Norwegian Jade (2 882) 27 Jan: Azamara Journey (781) 22 Jan: Oceania Nautica (803)

The MV Norwegian Jade, which carries almost 3 000 passengers, may be one of the cruise liners that decides to omit the Richards Bay stopover from its schedule

Wind is carrying the dust onto vessels and even into neighbouring suburbs