Record cruise ship calls for Auckland

MEDIA RELEASE

11 February 2009 - for immediate release

Record cruise ship calls for Auckland

Ports of Auckland’s Overseas Passenger Terminal will be a hive of activity this week when the Port hosts an all time record number of cruise ship calls. 

Between Monday 9 and Sunday 15 February, 12 cruise ships will visit Auckland, shattering the previous record of nine set in February 2007.

Wayne Mills, General Manager Port Services at Ports of Auckland, said February was generally a busy month for cruise ships, but that this month was “booming.”

“We are hosting 25 cruise ships in February – that is nearly one every day,” said Mr Mills.

“With every call adding over $1 million on average to the regional economy, this is great news for Auckland, especially for our hospitality and tourism providers.”

On nine days in February there will be two or more cruise ships in port, berthing at both Princes Wharf and Queens Wharf, and this week, on two occasions, three cruise ships will be in port at one time.

“Tomorrow (12 February) we are hosting the well known cruise liner Queen Victoria, maiden caller Tahitian Princess, as well as a special call by Nippon Maru, which arrived this morning,” said Mr Mills.

The Nippon Maru is on a ‘Ship for World Youth’ voyage, on which 260 young people from 12 countries – including 12 New Zealanders – will tour the South Pacific for six weeks, experiencing  the range of cultures and activities on offer

Other cruises are from, or bound for, Sydney, ports around New Zealand including Whangarei, Tauranga and Napier, and the Pacific Island ports of Nukualofa and Port Vila.

Passengers being processed on and off the ships are expected to number at least 20,500.  The largest exchange was handled yesterday (10 February), when more than 2,500 passengers, 1,000 crew and their luggage were transferred both on and off the Diamond Princess.

Totalling upwards of 7,000 people, handling such a transfer is equivalent to processing the arrival of 13 jumbo jets – and in less than 24 hours.

“The Ports Auckland team, along with Customs, MAF and other suppliers, are working hard this week, but everything is going very smoothly,” said Mr Mills.

“All of this is of course is a curtain raiser to the Queen Mary 2, one of the world’s biggest cruise liners and the largest ship to ever call New Zealand.  It will visit Auckland for the second time on Monday 23 February.”

“Because the Queen Mary 2 is so long, it must be berthed at Jellicoe Wharf, within the Customs-bonded area.  This presents an entirely different set of challenges for the teams,” he said.

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Operations at Ports of Auckland’s Overseas Passenger Terminals

Ports of Auckland supports the cruise industry through the provision of berthage, marine and logistics services on the Waitemata Harbour.

The Port’s Marine Services team manages the logistics of every cruise call, working with the ship’s New Zealand agent, hospitality and tourism providers, stevedores, Customs, MAF and other agencies, to ensure each call goes smoothly.

The lower levels of the Hilton Hotel on Princes Wharf were specifically designed to house the temporary terminal on cruise ship days, in which facilities similar to those at airports are setup to cater to passenger and baggage processing. A second facility is also available on Queens Wharf for days when more than one ship calls. 

Ports of Auckland is currently participating in a joint feasibility study with the Auckland Regional Council to investigate the development of a world class cruise ship facility on Queens Wharf, as part of a solution that would see continued use of the wharf for cargo handling.

Auckland as a cruise hub and the benefits for the city

Auckland is a key exchange port, so cruises can start and finish here – often on the same day. Auckland’s advantages include the Port's proximity to the Auckland central business and entertainment district, Auckland International Airport and other key tourism infrastructure.  Auckland is also the host of New Zealand’s only winter cruise season.

An economic impact report commissioned by Cruise New Zealand for the 2006/07 season concluded that Auckland was New Zealand’s leading cruise port and the main beneficiary of the economic benefits of the business, with a 51% share of direct expenditure.

Cruise ship timetable for the week 9 to 15 February (also available at www.poal.co.nz)

CRUISE SHIP     ARRIVAL DEPARTURE       FROM    TO     
AMADEA  09/02/2009 06:41        09/02/2009 20:03        BAY OF ISLANDS  WELLINGTON     
DIAMOND PRINCESS        10/02/2009 05:30        10/02/2009 18:30        TAURANGA        TAURANGA       
PACIFIC SUN     10/02/2009 06:47        11/02/2009 00:12        TAURANGA               
ORION (CRUISE SHIP)     11/02/2009 06:09        11/02/2009 18:00        WHANGAREI       BAY OF ISLANDS 
NIPPON MARU     11/02/2009 06:34        14/02/2009 16:00        NUKUALOFA       PORT VILA      
TAHITIAN PRINCESS       12/02/2009 05:30        12/02/2009 22:00        RAROTONGA       NAPIER 
QUEEN VICTORIA  12/02/2009 05:30        12/02/2009 22:00        LAUTOKA TAURANGA       
ORIANA  13/02/2009 06:00        13/02/2009 18:00        TAURANGA        SYDNEY 
ASUKA II        14/02/2009 05:30        14/02/2009 22:00                       
DAWN PRINCESS   14/02/2009 05:30        14/02/2009 16:00        TAURANGA        NAPIER 
MILLENNIUM      15/02/2009 04:30        15/02/2009 18:00        TAURANGA        TAURANGA       
OCEANIC DISCOVERER      15/02/2009 06:00        16/02/2009 12:00                MILFORD SOUNDS 

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