THE new in-water cruise ship cleaning technology rolling out in Auckland (pictured) this summer (CW yesterday) offers cruise lines the ability to create effective home port strategies in the region, according to Australian Cruise Association Chief Executive Officer Jill Abel. “Australia and New Zealand share connected markets and itineraries and...
THE new in-water cruise ship cleaning technology rolling out in Auckland (pictured) this summer (CW yesterday) offers cruise lines the ability to create effective home port strategies in the region, according to Australian Cruise Association Chief Executive Officer Jill Abel.
“Australia and New Zealand share connected markets and itineraries and what drives innovation, and operational improvement in Auckland delivers learnings and confidence that support the broader Australasian cruise sector,” Abel told CW.
“Improved maintenance technology adds flexibility and performance confidence, leading to key enablers for future deployment growth.
“For Australia, that means better confidence in building sustainable home port strategies and encouraging cruise line investment decisions.”
Co-developed by Port of Auckland and New Zealand Diving & Salvage, with support from Biosecurity New Zealand, the technology targets hard-to-clean areas of vessel hulls such as sea chests and propeller shafts.
The environmentally-friendly technology also reduces the need for offshore cleaning and minimises disruption to passenger and cargo operations.
New Zealand Cruise Association Chief Executive Officer Jacqui Lloyd told CW she is “thrilled” with the result of the new tech.
“[Cruise lines] needed a safety net so that if they were on their way here and part of the ship needed a tidy up, they would be able to do that safely within New Zealand waters and in a way that wouldn’t affect the ongoing itineraries and visitor experience – this is the solution,” she said.
While Lloyd acknowledged it may take two to three years for the solution to impact deployment, she hopes it will make a difference to cruise lines for the 2027-28 season.
Port of Auckland General Manager Chris Mills said the solution provides much-needed certainty for cruise lines.
“It’s an additional service that we can provide to shipping lines in the rare instance where there is the need for spot cleaning,” Mills explained.
“It means we can continue to protect New Zealand’s incredible marine environment without compromising the reliability of shipping operations.”
The solution is welcome news for New Zealand, off the back of Port of Auckland chief Roger Gray’s recent spray about the former government’s “anti-cruise agenda” (CW 28 Nov). JHM
