More than 200 ships are bound
for Australia’s cruising gateway
city over the coming months.
THE 2011/12 cruise season was officially
launched on Friday by Sydney Ports
Corporation Chief Executive Officer Grant
Gilfillan, who announced the dramatic increase
in ship visits this financial year – 214 vessel
visits, compared to 150 last year.
“The cruise industry in Sydney is in an
extraordinary growth phase and it doesn’t look
like slowing down,” Gilfillan said.
“In fact 264 ship visits have already been
booked for the following cruise season in
2012/13.”
February 2012 will be the high point of the
cruise season, with a new record of 33 ship
visits, up from 27 in February 2011.
This summer will also see six ships – Costa
Deliziosa, Radiance of the Seas, Celebrity
Century, Zaandam, Sea Princess and Discovery
– making their maiden visits to Sydney.
A plaque commemorating Radiance of the
Seas’ deployment to Sydney was presented on
Friday by Sydney Ports.
Gilfillan said that the corporation would
continue to work with the cruise industry to
provide the services and infrastructure
required to support the growth in cruise
shipping.
“Sydney Ports will also undertake a
significant upgrade of services and
infrastructure needs at the Overseas Passenger
Terminal at Circular Quay over the next couple
of years,” he said.
“In addition, following an exhaustive
consultation and planning stage, work will also
begin on the new $57 million terminal at
White Bay, which will replace the temporary
Wharf 5 terminal at Barangaroo.”
Gillian said the NSW Government welcomes
the cruise industry’s contribution to the state’s
economy.
“And we welcome the thousands of cruise
passengers who are about to experience the
excitement of entering the world’s finest
harbour.”
Most of the ships docking at Sydney this
summer will also call at other cities in Australia.
