By
Cherie Rowlands |
Exponential cruise growth at Ports of Auckland in New Zealand’s largest city, is driving infrastructure plans as the port prepares to accommodate some of the biggest ships during the 2012-2013 season.
From only one cruise visit in 1991, to 101 calls in the 2012-2013 season, the growth in cruising means Ports of Auckland will be handling around 256,000 passengers in the current cruising year. Celebrity Solstice and Voyager of the Seas will be among the largest vessels visiting the Princes Wharf terminal, while the 340-metre Queen Mary 2 will be the longest ship to dock at the city port.
“The 2012-2013 cruise season is set to be a fantastic one as Ports of Auckland welcomes some of the largest cruise ships in the world,” Ports of Auckland multi-cargo and marine general manager Wayne Mills said.
To handle the increasing passenger numbers, Auckland is investing in port infrastructure with a new cruise facility currently being built at Queens Wharf, which will include a covered gangway. Waterfront Auckland CEO John Dalzell said: “The cruise terminal will be ready for Auckland’s 2013-2014 cruise season and will double the size of the current facility on Princes Wharf.”
Ports of Auckland is working closely with its partners, Cruise New Zealand and Waterfront Auckland, to explore future growth opportunities as the cruise growth in the country is expected to continue Mills said. Cruise New Zealand chairman Craig Harris added: “If global trends are anything to go by cruise growth will continue, with reports of new ship orders, and the potential and sustained strength of the Asian and Australian economies.”
Auckland is one of only two hub ports in the South Pacific, for cruise. Sydney in Australia, is the other.