Canadian cruise port aims to double its berthing capacity and accommodate more passengers
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Québec Port Authority is to expand the Ross Gaudreault Cruise Terminal to double its ship capacity and enable it to handle around 400,000 passengers per year by 2025.
As part of the CAD89.5 million project, the terminal will be extended to enable it to cater for larger cruise ships, meet their logistical needs during embarkation and disembarkation operations, and boost berthing capacity.
In addition, a mobile terminal will be installed at wharf 30 in the Estuary sector to improve the customer experience as they transit the port.
“The completion of this project is a crucial step in supporting the strong growth in international cruises that will take place in Québec over the next ten years,” said Mario Girard, president and CEO of Québec Port Authority. “It is a promising economic and tourism project both for our community and for the province of Quebec at large, since it will strengthen the St. Lawrence’s unique position for international cruises.”
Québec, which is one of Canada’s key embarkation and disembarkation ports, has recorded significant growth over the past few years. The number of visiting cruise passengers has risen by 429% from 34,000 in 2002 to 180,000 in 2014.
Earlier this year, Québec government pledged to invest a total of CAD55 to finance new cruise passenger greeting projects at the ports of Québec and Montréal. While Québec will use the CAD35 million funding to improve its passenger greeting infrastructure, Montréal will leverage the CAD20 million investment to restore both Alexandra Pier and the marine passenger terminal.